9 key elements of the crime bill

On Sept. 20, federal justice minister Rob Nicholson tabled C-10, the governments new crime bill.

Formally known as The Safe Streets and Communities Act, the bill actually comprises nine smaller bills that were introduced by the Conservative government during its minority rule, but were never passed.

The Conservatives election platform promised to pass this bill within 100 sitting days of Parliament, beginning on June 6.

C-10 contains the following bills:

The Protecting Children from Sexual Predators Act

Formerly Bill C-54, this act would:

• Establish new mandatory minimum penalties for existing offences related to child exploitation
• Increase maximum prison sentences for four of these offences (to reflect their "particularly heinous nature")
• Create two new offences: 1) to ban anyone from providing sexually explicit material to a child for the purpose of committing a sexual offence against that child, and 2) to ban anyone from using any means of telecommunications (e.g. the internet) to make arrangements with another person to commit a sexual offence against a child

>>View the full government backgrounder on this act

The Increasing Penalties for Organized Drug Crime Act

Formerly Bill S-10, this act would:

• Provide mandatory minimum penalties for serious drug offences when they are carried out by organized crime or target youth
• Increase the maximum penalty for the manufacture of drugs in Schedule II of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (like marijuana) from seven to 14 years
• Move date-rape drugs and amphetamines to Schedule I, thus resulting in higher maximum penalties

>>View government backgrounder

Protecting the Public from Violent Young Offenders Act

Formerly Bill C-4, this act would:

• Make the protection of society the primary objective of the Youth Criminal Justice Act
• Ask the Crown to consider adult sentences for youth convicted of serious violent crimes

>>View government backgrounder

The Ending House Arrest for Property and Other Serious Crimes by Serious and Violent Offenders Act

Formerly C-16, this act would:

• Propose amendments that would restrict the use of conditional sentences (like house arrest) for offences like manslaughter, arson, sexual assault and drug trafficking, among others

>>View government backgrounder

The Increasing Offender Accountability Act

Formerly Bill C-39, this act would:

Keep the families of victims better informed about the behaviour and handling of offenders Authorize police to arrest, without an warrant, any offender who appears to be breaking their release conditions

>>View government backgrounder

The Eliminating Pardons for Serious Crimes Act

Formerly Bill C-23B, this act would:

• Replace the word "pardon" with "record suspension"
• Make certain people ineligible for a record suspension, including those convicted of sexual offences against minors and those convicted of more than three offences

>>View government backgrounder

The International Transfer of Canadian Offenders Back to Canada Act

Formerly Bill C-5, this act would

• Propose amendments to the International Transfer of Offenders Act, which would establish additional factors in deciding whether an offender would be granted a transfer back to Canada particularly if he/she was likely to endanger public safety or otherwise engage in criminal activities

>>View government backgrounder

The Supporting Victims of Terrorism Act

Formerly Bill S-7, this act would:

• Permit victims of terrorism to sue the perpetrators or supporters of terrorism, including foreign countries that the Canadian government has listed as having provided support to terrorism

>>View government backgrounder

Protecting Vulnerable Foreign Nationals against Trafficking, Abuse and Exploitation Act

Formerly Bill-C-56, this act would:

• Make it possible to deny work permits to people who are vulnerable to abuse or exploitation, including exotic dancers, low-skilled labourers and victims of human trafficking

>>View government backgrounder