Yes. Actually, the increased penalties and characterizing the offences as hybrid have two impacts. One, it allows for a crown election to proceed either summarily or by indictment, which in turn triggers an election by the accused if the crown proceeds by indictment. So it has that impact. Second, if the accused is convicted, the accused would be subject to higher penalties than is currently the case.
On February 14th, 2008. See this statement in context.