Bill S-228

An Act to amend the Criminal Code (sterilization procedures)

Status

Third reading (House), as of May 4, 2026

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Summary

This is from the published bill.

This enactment amends the Criminal Code to clarify that a sterilization procedure is an act that wounds or maims a person for the purposes of subsection 268(1).

Similar bills

S-250 (44th Parliament, 1st session) An Act to amend the Criminal Code (sterilization procedures)

Elsewhere

All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.

Bill numbers are reused for different bills each new session. Perhaps you were looking for one of these other S-228s:

S-228 (2021) Constitution Act, 2021 (property qualifications of Senators)

S-228 (2021) An Act to amend the Criminal Code (trafficking in persons)

S-228 (2016) Child Health Protection Act

S-228 (2015) Hispanic Heritage Month Act

Debate Summary

This is a computer-generated summary of the speeches below. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.

Bill S-228 amends the Criminal Code to clarify that performing a sterilization procedure without free, prior, and informed consent constitutes aggravated assault, carrying a maximum penalty of 14 years.

Conservative

Supports survivor-centred legislation: The Conservative party strongly supports Bill S-228, emphasizing its survivor-centred and Indigenous-led development to address forced and coerced sterilization.
Targets ongoing human rights abuse: Forced and coerced sterilization is an ongoing human rights violation in Canada, disproportionately affecting Indigenous peoples and marginalized communities, requiring immediate parliamentary action.
Clarifies criminal code provisions: The bill strengthens the Criminal Code by explicitly recognizing forced or coerced sterilization as aggravated assault, providing legal clarity for enforcement, deterrence, and accountability where existing laws have failed.

NDP

Supports criminalizing forced sterilization: The NDP strongly supports Bill S-228, which aims to criminalize forced or coerced sterilization procedures in the Criminal Code, treating them as aggravated assault.
Addresses genocidal policy: The party identifies forced or coerced sterilization as a genocidal policy against Indigenous peoples, noting its continued impact on other marginalized groups.
Prevent obstetric violence: The NDP highlights the responsibility to prevent obstetric violence and acknowledge the link between racism and the practice of coerced sterilization in Canada.

Bloc

Supports explicit ban on forced sterilization: The Bloc Québécois supports Bill S-228, which explicitly bans forced or coerced sterilization, seeing it as a matter of common sense and a necessary step to provide legal recourse for victims and deter health care professionals.
Addresses historical and recent abuses: The bill addresses the historical eugenic and colonial practices of forced sterilization of Indigenous women, and acknowledges ongoing class actions and studies indicating that coerced sterilizations persist in Canada.
Strengthens free and informed consent: The bill is a crucial step towards explicitly prohibiting forced sterilization, providing greater legal protection for vulnerable women and affirming the primacy of free, informed, and prior consent in medical procedures.
Requires broader action and provincial respect: While supporting the bill, the Bloc emphasizes that legislative provisions alone are insufficient; they must be accompanied by rigorous enforcement, culturally respectful strategies, Indigenous participation, and full respect for Quebec's health care jurisdiction.

Liberal

Supports bill S-228: The Liberal government supports Bill S-228 to amend the Criminal Code, clarifying that coerced sterilization procedures without valid consent constitute aggravated assault.
Addresses disproportionate harm: The bill addresses the profound breach of bodily integrity from coerced sterilization, which disproportionately affects Indigenous, racialized, and disabled women and gender-diverse people.
Clarifies aggravated assault: Bill S-228 explicitly clarifies that sterilization without legally effective consent constitutes wounding or maiming, falling under the Criminal Code's aggravated assault provisions.
Aligns with reconciliation efforts: The bill supports Canada's broader reconciliation efforts and commitments under UNDRIP, aiming to eliminate forced sterilization and strengthen reproductive autonomy.

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Criminal CodePrivate Members' Business

February 26th, 2026 / 5:15 p.m.

Liberal

Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB

Mr. Speaker, I suspect if you were to canvass the House, you would find unanimous consent, as discussed with the official opposition, to allow the bill to pass unanimously but to allow it to go to committee. This way, individuals that might want to present at committee are afforded that opportunity.

Criminal CodePrivate Members' Business

February 26th, 2026 / 5:15 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker Tom Kmiec

Is it agreed?

Criminal CodePrivate Members' Business

February 26th, 2026 / 5:15 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

Criminal CodePrivate Members' Business

February 26th, 2026 / 5:15 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker Tom Kmiec

(Motion agreed to, bill read the second time and referred to a committee)