Bill S-219 explained in plain English
An Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (disclosure of information to victims)
Federal Parliament bill summary, status, timeline, sponsor, votes, and official sources.
At a glance
Official Parliament of Canada snapshot for 43rd Parliament, 2nd 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-219 amends the Corrections and Conditional Release Act to require that when information about offender eligibility dates and release dates is disclosed to crime victims, it must include an explanation of how those dates were determined.
Bill S-219 changes the rules for how information is shared with victims of crimes about the offenders who hurt them. Specifically, it focuses on information about when an offender might be eligible for parole, temporary leave, or release from prison. Under current law, corrections officials and parole boards can tell victims certain information about the offender—including the dates when the offender might be released or become eligible for different types of leave. This bill adds a requirement that whenever these eligibility dates and release dates are disclosed to a victim, the officials must also explain how those dates were determined. This applies to information shared by: - The Commissioner of Corrections (who oversees federal prisons) under section 26 of the Act - The Chairperson of the Parole Board under section 142 of the Act The bill covers dates related to temporary absences (both unescorted and escorted), work release, parole, and statutory release. The bill also includes a technical provision (section 3) that coordinates with another law called "An Act to Bring Fairness for the Victims of Violent Offenders" to avoid conflicts if both laws come into force at different times.
- Amends subsection 26(1)(a)(iv) of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act to require that when the Commissioner discloses eligibility dates and review dates to victims, an explanation of how those dates were determined must be included
- Amends subsection 26(1)(c)(i) of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act to require that when the Commissioner discloses the actual date of temporary absence, work release, parole, or statutory release to victims, an explanation of how that date was determined must be included
- Amends subsection 142(1)(a)(iv) of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act to require that when the Parole Board Chairperson discloses eligibility dates and review dates to victims, an explanation of how those dates were determined must be included
- Amends subsection 142(1)(b)(iii) of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act to require that when the Parole Board Chairperson discloses the actual date of temporary absence, work release, parole, or statutory release to victims, an explanation of how that date was determined must be included
- Includes a coordinating amendment (section 3) that manages the interaction between this bill and 'An Act to Bring Fairness for the Victims of Violent Offenders' (2015, c. 11) to prevent duplication or conflict if both laws come into force at different times
- Crime victims who request information about offenders under the Corrections and Conditional Release Act
- The Commissioner of Corrections, who must provide explanations along with eligibility and release dates when disclosing information to victims
- The Chairperson of the Parole Board, who must provide explanations along with eligibility and release dates when disclosing information to victims
- Offenders in federal custody or on parole, as the information disclosed about them will now include explanations of how dates were determined
- Victims have the right to request information about offenders under the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, and when eligibility dates or release dates are disclosed, they must now receive an explanation of how those dates were determined
- The Commissioner of Corrections must include explanations of how dates were determined when disclosing eligibility dates, review dates, or actual release dates to victims
- The Parole Board Chairperson must include explanations of how dates were determined when disclosing eligibility dates, review dates, or actual release dates to victims
- The bill does not specify what information or level of detail an explanation of how dates were determined must contain; this is left to the discretion of corrections officials and the Parole Board
- The bill does not specify a commencement date—when the amendments will come into force is not stated in the bill text
- The interaction between this bill and 'An Act to Bring Fairness for the Victims of Violent Offenders' depends on which law comes into force first, but the bill text does not indicate when either law will actually come into force
- The bill does not indicate whether providing explanations of how dates were determined will affect the discretion of officials to disclose or withhold information based on public safety considerations
Adds requirements that explanations of how eligibility dates, review dates, and release dates were determined must be included when this information is disclosed to crime victims by the Commissioner of Corrections or the Parole Board Chairperson
Source: Sections 1 and 2 of Bill S-219
If this act comes into force before or at the same time as certain provisions of Bill S-219, a coordinating rule applies to ensure section 142(1)(c)(i) of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act includes the explanation requirement
Source: Section 3 of Bill S-219
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-219, concerning the disclosure of information to victims under the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, completed its first reading in the Senate on December 1, 2020, and proceeded to second reading debates.
This record details the initial stage of Bill S-219, an Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (disclosure of information to victims), in the Senate. The bill successfully completed its first reading on December 1, 2020. It then moved to second reading, with a first debate occurring on December 3, 2020, and further debate on June 28, 2021.
During this Senate sitting, Bill S-219, concerning amendments to the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, was introduced and received its first reading.
The Senate of Canada's sitting on December 1, 2020, included the first reading of Bill S-219, An Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (disclosure of information to victims). This procedural step means the bill was formally introduced in the Senate. The sitting also included statements on various topics, tabling of reports, notices of motions, and question period concerning a range of government actions and policies. The first reading of Bill S-219 was completed without debate on its merits at this stage.
Bill S-219, concerning disclosure of information to victims, is at the second reading stage in the Senate, with debates and speeches noted from December 2020 and June 2021.
This record describes the status of Bill S-219, An Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (disclosure of information to victims), at the second reading stage in the Senate. It indicates that the debate at second reading occurred on June 28, 2021. The bill had its first reading on December 1, 2020, and its second reading began on December 3, 2020. The record also notes major speeches given by Senator Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu on December 3, 2020, and Senator Kim Pate on June 28, 2021. A similar bill, C-466, was introduced in a previous Parliament.
On December 3, 2020, the Senate held a sitting that included tributes, routine proceedings, question period, and the adjournment of debate on several bills, including Bill S-219 concerning victim disclosure of information, alongside debates on motions related to foreign affairs, official languages, and resource extraction.
This artifact is a record of a Senate sitting on December 3, 2020. The sitting included tributes to individuals, tabling of committee reports, motions regarding committee membership and adjournment, question period on various topics including COVID-19 vaccines and Indigenous services, and debates on several bills. Specifically, Bill S-219, concerning the disclosure of information to victims under the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, was introduced and debate was adjourned. Other debates included bills on offshore health and safety, amendments to the Judges Act and Criminal Code, establishing a Commissioner for Children and Youth, amending the Department for Women and Gender Equality Act, and amending the Criminal Code regarding juror disclosure. Motions were also debated regarding Turkey's actions in the Mediterranean and Eastern Mediterranean, the WE Charity contract, and the impacts of resource extraction and development. Delayed answers to oral questions were also provided.
On December 3, 2020, the Senate held a debate that included tributes, discussions on social issues, routine proceedings, question period, and the second reading debates for multiple bills, primarily focusing on Bill S-219 concerning the disclosure of information to victims.
This artifact is a transcript of the Senate's debate on December 3, 2020. It includes tributes to individuals, discussions on various topics including International Day of Persons with Disabilities, gender-based violence, and commemorations. It also details routine proceedings, question period exchanges on topics such as COVID-19 vaccines, agricultural programs, and infrastructure. The majority of the document is dedicated to the debate at second reading for several bills, including those related to offshore health and safety, judges and the criminal code, children and youth, women and gender equality, and the corrections and conditional release act. Finally, it records motions, a point of order, a vote on an adjournment motion, and responses to delayed oral questions.
During a Senate sitting on June 28, 2021, senators debated and advanced several bills and motions, including those related to budget implementation, climate change accountability, broadcasting, conversion therapy, and human rights, while also addressing matters of national and international importance.
The Senate convened for a sitting where several items were discussed. The sitting began with Senators' Statements, followed by Routine Proceedings and Question Period, where various government policies and actions were debated. The main part of the sitting involved Orders of the Day, which included the second reading of several bills. Bill S-219, concerning the disclosure of information to victims under the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, was noted but debate was adjourned. Bill C-30, the Budget Implementation Act, 2021, No. 1, and Bill C-12, concerning net-zero emissions accountability, both proceeded to third reading. Bill C-10, amending the Broadcasting Act, and Bill C-6, amending the Criminal Code regarding conversion therapy, were debated at second reading and referred to committee or passed second reading respectively. Several motions were also debated, including those concerning human rights in China and the Philippines, Emancipation Day, and the closure of programs at Laurentian University. The sitting concluded with the adjournment of debate on an inquiry regarding NAV CANADA.
On June 28, 2021, the Senate debated various bills and motions, including those related to Indigenous issues, foreign policy, broadcasting, conversion therapy, and university funding, alongside routine government business and inquiries.
This document contains the official records of a Senate debate on June 28, 2021. The debate included discussions on Indigenous residential schools, the Stanley Cup Finals, the Air India Flight 182 tragedy, various government questions regarding public health, Crown-Indigenous relations, justice, immigration, international trade, health, and natural resources. It also covered the second reading debate of several bills, including the Budget Implementation Bill, the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Bill, the Broadcasting Act amendment bill, the Criminal Code amendment bill regarding conversion therapy, and a bill to restrict young persons' online access to sexually explicit material. Additionally, motions were debated concerning sanctions against Chinese and Hong Kong officials, the persecution of Uighur Muslims in China, pathways for temporary migrant workers, the detention of Senator Leila M. de Lima in the Philippines, the closure of programs at Laurentian University, and the designation of August 1 as Emancipation Day. Finally, an inquiry into the fiscal crisis facing NAV CANADA was also addressed.
Bill S-219 is currently at the Second Reading stage in the Senate, with a Third Reading stage not yet reached, and has had related debate and speeches.
This artifact describes the procedural status of Bill S-219 in the Senate. The bill has reached the Senate Third Reading stage, but this stage has not yet occurred. The bill is currently at the Second Reading stage in the Senate, with debate having taken place on Monday, June 28, 2021. The bill was first read on Tuesday, December 1, 2020, and had its second reading on Thursday, December 3, 2020. Speeches from Senator Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu (Sponsor's speech) and Senator Kim Pate (Response speech) are noted as major speeches related to the second reading debate. The artifact also mentions a similar bill, C-466, from a previous Parliament which is outside the Order of Precedence and last completed first reading in the House of Commons.
This record details the procedural status of Bill S-219 at the House of Commons First Reading stage, noting it has not yet occurred, while the bill is currently at second reading in the Senate.
This artifact describes the House of Commons First Reading stage for Bill S-219, An Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (disclosure of information to victims). According to the provided text, this stage has not yet been reached. The bill was first read in the House of Commons on Tuesday, December 1, 2020. The current status of the bill is at second reading in the Senate, with its latest activity being debate at second reading on Monday, June 28, 2021. A similar bill, C-466, was introduced in a previous Parliament.
Bill S-219, concerning the disclosure of information to victims, has not yet reached the second reading stage in the House of Commons, though it has progressed in the Senate.
This artifact describes the progress of Bill S-219 through the House of Commons. The bill, which aims to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act concerning the disclosure of information to victims, has not yet reached the second reading stage in the House of Commons. The provided text notes that the bill's current status is at second reading in the Senate and lists past activities in the Senate, including a sponsor's speech on December 3, 2020, and a response speech on June 28, 2021. It also mentions a similar bill, C-466, from a previous Parliament.
Bill S-219, concerning the disclosure of information to victims, has not yet reached the committee stage in the House of Commons, and is currently at the second reading stage in the Senate.
This artifact describes the legislative stage for Bill S-219 in the House of Commons. The bill has not yet reached the 'Consideration in committee' stage in the House of Commons. The current status of the bill is 'At second reading in the Senate', with the latest activity being debate at second reading on June 28, 2021. The bill was first read on December 1, 2020, and had its second reading on December 3, 2020, in the Senate. The artifact also notes a similar bill, C-466, introduced in a previous Parliament.
Bill S-219, concerning amendments to the Corrections and Conditional Release Act for victim information disclosure, has reached the Report stage in the House of Commons which has not yet occurred, while it is currently at the second reading stage in the Senate.
This artifact indicates that Bill S-219 has reached the Report stage in the House of Commons, but this stage has not yet occurred ('Not reached'). The bill is currently at the second reading stage in the Senate. The provided text details the bill's progression through the Senate, including the sponsor's speech on December 3, 2020, and a response speech on June 28, 2021. It also notes a similar private member's bill, C-466, from a previous Parliament that also dealt with amending the Corrections and Conditional Release Act regarding information disclosure to victims.
The procedural step of 'House of Commons Third Reading' for Bill S-219 has not yet been reached, as the bill is currently at the second reading stage in the Senate.
This artifact describes the 'House of Commons Third Reading' stage for Bill S-219. However, the 'Stage state' is listed as 'Not reached', meaning this procedural step has not yet occurred in the House of Commons. The bill is currently at the 'Second Reading' stage in the Senate. The provided text details the bill's progression, including its first and second readings in the Senate, and lists major speeches given during the second reading debates. It also references a similar bill, C-466, from a previous Parliament.
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