Bill S-220 explained in plain English
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (international fraud)
Federal Parliament bill summary, status, timeline, sponsor, votes, and official sources.
At a glance
Official Parliament of Canada snapshot for 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. MP vote breakdowns appear when the House of Commons publishes a recorded division export for that bill. Senate and House stage details include official debate/sitting links when LEGISinfo publishes them.
Our plain-language take, written for civic education.
Source: By PoliticalData.ca
Bill S-220 proposed to amend the Criminal Code to extend certain fraud offences to acts committed outside Canada and to add new aggravating circumstances for sentencing in fraud cases.
Bill S-220, also known as the Combating International Fraud Act, proposed to expand the scope of certain fraud-related offences in the Criminal Code to include actions committed outside of Canada. It also aimed to introduce new aggravating circumstances for sentencing purposes in fraud cases. The bill did not proceed beyond its first reading in the Senate.
- It would have amended section 7 of the Criminal Code to state that certain acts or omissions committed outside of Canada are considered to have been committed in Canada if specific conditions are met.
- These conditions include the person committing the act or omission being a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, a person who ordinarily resides in Canada and is not a citizen of any state, or an organization formed under Canadian law.
- It also would have deemed the act or omission to have been committed in Canada if the person is present in Canada after the act or omission, or if the act or omission was committed against a Canadian citizen.
- It would have amended section 380.1 of the Criminal Code regarding sentencing for fraud offences.
- It would have added that the court shall consider as aggravating circumstances if the offence adversely affected, or had the potential to adversely affect, the stability of the Canadian or another country's economy, financial system, or financial market, or investor confidence.
- It would have also added that the value of the fraud exceeding one million dollars is an aggravating circumstance for certain fraud offences.
- It would have clarified that an offender's employment, employment skills, status, or reputation in the community should not be considered mitigating circumstances if they were relevant to, contributed to, or were used in the commission of the offence.
- It would have established a short title for the Act: the Combating International Fraud Act.
- Individuals who commit acts or omissions outside Canada that would constitute fraud offences if committed in Canada, and who are Canadian citizens, permanent residents, ordinarily reside in Canada, or are present in Canada after the act.
- Organizations incorporated or formed under Canadian law that commit such acts or omissions outside Canada.
- Canadian citizens who are victims of certain fraud-related offences committed outside Canada.
- Courts imposing sentences for fraud-related offences.
- The Canadian economy, financial system, and financial markets, as well as investor confidence, in the context of sentencing considerations.
- Individuals committing certain fraud offences outside Canada may be subject to Canadian law if they meet the criteria of being a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, ordinarily residing in Canada, present in Canada after the act, or if the victim is a Canadian citizen.
- Courts are mandated to consider specific factors as aggravating circumstances during sentencing for fraud offences, including impacts on economic stability and the value of the fraud.
- An offender's employment status or reputation in the community cannot be used as a mitigating factor if it was relevant to the commission of the offence.
- The bill proposes to make the value of the fraud exceeding one million dollars an aggravating circumstance for sentencing, which could impact the severity of sentences but does not directly impose new taxes or fees.
- The bill would allow Canadian courts to have jurisdiction over certain fraud-related acts committed outside of Canada.
- It introduces new aggravating circumstances for sentencing, which could lead to more severe penalties for individuals convicted of these offences.
- The bill text does not specify how 'ordinarily resides in Canada' would be determined for individuals who are not Canadian citizens.
- The bill does not specify the exact date of commencement, as it did not proceed.
- The specific fraud-related offences covered are listed by section number, and the full scope would depend on the definitions within those sections of the Criminal Code.
- It is not clear from the provided text whether 'any financial market in Canada or another country' is limited to regulated markets.
Introduces new provisions to extend the jurisdiction of certain fraud offences to acts committed outside Canada under specific conditions, and modifies sentencing considerations for fraud offences.
Source: Section 2 and 3
Adds a new subsection (4.21) that deems certain acts or omissions committed outside Canada to have occurred in Canada if the perpetrator meets certain criteria (e.g., Canadian citizen, permanent resident, organization formed under Canadian law) or if the perpetrator is present in Canada after the act, or if the act was committed against a Canadian citizen.
Source: Section 2
Modifies provisions related to sentencing for fraud offences, specifically by adding new aggravating circumstances concerning the impact on economic stability and the value of the fraud exceeding one million dollars, and clarifies non-mitigating factors.
Source: Section 3
Is referenced in the proposed amendment to the Criminal Code to define 'permanent resident'.
Source: Section 2
Generated using AI from official bill text. Not legal advice. It is written by PoliticalData.ca for civic education, automatically checked and spot-reviewed before publishing.
Official textParliamentary Process
Bill S-220, an Act to amend the Criminal Code (international fraud), completed its first reading in the Senate in March 2016, but was later dropped from the Order Paper in October 2016.
This record shows the procedural steps for Bill S-220, concerning amendments to the Criminal Code related to international fraud. The bill reached its first reading in the Senate on March 9, 2016, and second reading speeches occurred later that spring. However, the bill was ultimately dropped from the Senate Order Paper on October 27, 2016, meaning it did not proceed further.
Bill S-220 was introduced for its first reading in the Senate on March 9, 2016, after which the Senate proceeded with other parliamentary business.
On March 9, 2016, Bill S-220, an Act to amend the Criminal Code concerning international fraud, was introduced in the Senate for its first reading by Senator Hervieux-Payette. The Senate then proceeded with other business, including statements, routine proceedings, orders of the day, and question period, before adjourning. The bill itself was not debated during this sitting.
Bill S-220, concerning international fraud, reached the Senate's Second Reading stage but was not proceeded with and was dropped from the Order Paper.
This record describes the status of Bill S-220, an Act to amend the Criminal Code concerning international fraud, within the Senate. The bill reached the Second Reading stage in the Senate but was ultimately "dropped from the Order Paper" on October 27, 2016, meaning it was not proceeded with. The record notes that Second Reading debates occurred on March 22, 2016, April 12, 2016, and included a sponsor's speech by Senator Céline Hervieux-Payette on April 12, 2016.
During a Senate sitting on March 22, 2016, the debate on Bill S-220, an Act to amend the Criminal Code (international fraud), was adjourned by Senator Hervieux-Payette.
On March 22, 2016, the Senate met for a sitting where various routine proceedings and orders of the day were addressed. Bill S-220, concerning international fraud, was at the second reading stage. Senator Hervieux-Payette moved to adjourn the debate on Bill S-220 until a later date, indicating she would deliver her speech upon the Senate's return from the Easter break. The sitting also included statements on current events, tabling of committee reports, first readings of bills, and continuation or adjournment of debates on other bills.
On April 12, 2016, the Senate met to introduce new senators, hear statements, debate legislation including Bill S-220 on international fraud, and discuss procedural matters before adjourning.
This record details a sitting of the Senate on April 12, 2016. The sitting included the introduction of seven new senators, tributes, statements on various topics including Parkinson's Awareness Month and Canada-Singapore relations, tabling of reports, questions from senators to the Government Representative in the Senate, and debates on several bills. Notably, Bill S-220, concerning amendments to the Criminal Code related to international fraud, was at the second reading stage, and a debate on it was continued. Other discussions included a motion to amend Senate rules regarding committee composition and a committee's authorization to study the financial implications of an aging population. The Senate adjourned at the end of the day.
During Senate debate at the second reading stage of Bill S-220, Senator Hervieux-Payette explained the bill's intent to address international fraud by expanding the extraterritorial reach of certain Criminal Code provisions, using the UraMin scandal as an example of why such changes are needed.
This artifact is a record of debate in the Senate concerning Bill S-220, an Act to amend the Criminal Code regarding international fraud. During this debate, Senator Hervieux-Payette spoke about the bill, explaining its purpose and the context that led to its introduction. She detailed the UraMin scandal as a case study, highlighting questionable financial transactions, alleged fraud, and the difficulties in prosecuting such international cases within Canada's existing legal framework. The senator argued that current laws are insufficient to address modern international fraud, especially given the digital age and complex corporate structures. The bill proposes to amend the Criminal Code to allow Canadian courts to prosecute certain fraud offences committed outside of Canada, particularly those that have a substantial link to Canada or affect Canadian citizens. The debate was adjourned before a decision was made on the bill.
On June 7, 2016, the Senate held a sitting where various reports were tabled, motions debated, and the second reading debate for Bill S-220, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (international fraud), was adjourned, with the bill's status noted as 'Bill not proceeded with'.
This record details a sitting of the Senate on June 7, 2016. It includes various procedural activities such as tabling reports, presenting committee findings, and debating motions. Notably, it records the debate on Bill S-220, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (international fraud), which was adjourned. The sitting also featured discussions on other bills and numerous other matters before the Senate. The status of Bill S-220 is 'Bill not proceeded with', and the second reading debate for this specific bill was adjourned, indicating it was not completed at this sitting.
Bill S-220, concerning international fraud, did not proceed past the 'Not reached' stage of Senate Third Reading and was dropped from the Order Paper.
The record indicates that Bill S-220, concerning amendments to the Criminal Code related to international fraud, reached the 'Senate Third reading' stage but this stage was 'Not reached'. The bill was ultimately dropped from the Senate Order Paper on October 27, 2016. The artifact also lists key dates for First and Second reading, and notes a sponsor's speech at Second Reading by Senator Céline Hervieux-Payette.
Bill S-220, concerning international fraud, did not reach its first reading stage in the House of Commons after being dropped from the Senate's agenda.
The provided artifact describes the legislative journey of Bill S-220 in the House of Commons. It indicates that the 'House of Commons First reading' stage for this bill was 'Not reached'. The artifact also notes that the bill was dropped from the Senate Order Paper on October 27, 2016, and lists previous procedural steps in the Senate, including first reading on March 9, 2016, and second reading debates on March 22 and April 12, 2016, with a sponsor's speech on April 12, 2016. The current bill status is noted as 'Bill not proceeded with'.
Bill S-220, an Act to amend the Criminal Code (international fraud), was not proceeded with in the House of Commons, with the Second Reading stage not having been reached.
The provided text indicates that Bill S-220, concerning amendments to the Criminal Code related to international fraud, has not proceeded with in the House of Commons. The House of Commons Second Reading stage for this bill is marked as 'Not reached'. The bill was dropped from the Senate Order Paper on October 27, 2016. The artifact includes information about the bill's first and second readings in the Senate, as well as a note about a sponsor's speech at the second reading in the Senate on April 12, 2016.
Bill S-220, concerning international fraud, did not proceed past its second reading in the Senate and has not reached the committee stage in the House of Commons.
The House of Commons Consideration in committee stage for Bill S-220, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (international fraud), has not been reached. The bill was dropped from the Senate Order Paper on October 27, 2016. It had its first reading in the Senate on March 9, 2016, and its second reading on March 22 and April 12, 2016. A major speech was made by Senator Céline Hervieux-Payette during the second reading on April 12, 2016.
Bill S-220, intended to amend the Criminal Code regarding international fraud, did not proceed past the Senate Order Paper and did not reach the Report stage in the House of Commons.
The official record indicates that Bill S-220, concerning amendments to the Criminal Code related to international fraud, reached the Report stage in the House of Commons. However, this stage was 'Not reached,' and the bill was ultimately 'dropped from the Senate Order Paper' on October 27, 2016, meaning it did not proceed further through the legislative process. The provided text also lists initial procedural steps in the Senate, including First Reading on March 9, 2016, and Second Reading on March 22 and April 12, 2016, with a sponsor's speech noted on April 12, 2016.
Bill S-220, concerning international fraud amendments to the Criminal Code, did not proceed to the House of Commons Third reading stage and was dropped from the Senate Order Paper.
This artifact describes the 'House of Commons Third reading' stage for Bill S-220. However, the process record indicates that this stage was 'Not reached' and that the bill was 'dropped from the Senate Order Paper' on October 27, 2016. Therefore, no procedural activity occurred at this stage in the House of Commons for this bill.
Debate and sitting links point to official parliamentary sources when LEGISinfo publishes them. Any plain-language discussion summaries should be generated from those official texts and reviewed before public display.
Vote Summary
This bill is still active. We only show vote counts after the legislature publishes a recorded division.
No published representative vote breakdown
This bill is still moving through the process. When a recorded division is published, representative positions can be listed here.
Official sources
Status, sponsor, votes, and timeline on this page are drawn from these official legislative sources and public records. Each summary above is attributed to its own source.
How this data is sourced