Bill S-224 explained in plain English
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (increasing parole ineligibility)
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-224 amends the Criminal Code to increase the minimum parole ineligibility period from 25 to between 25 and 40 years for persons convicted of abduction, sexual assault, and murder of the same victim in the same event or series of events.
Bill S-224, titled the "Respecting Families of Murdered and Brutalized Persons Act," modifies the Criminal Code to change how parole eligibility is determined for persons convicted of multiple serious offences against the same victim in the same event or series of events. Currently, a person convicted of murder must be sentenced to life imprisonment. The minimum period before they become eligible for parole review is typically 25 years. This bill adds a new scenario (called paragraph 745(a.1)) that applies when a person is convicted of all three of the following in relation to the same victim and same event or series of events: (1) abduction (sections 279-283), (2) sexual assault (sections 151-153.1, 271-273), and (3) murder. In these cases, the bill allows the sentencing judge to order that the person serve between 25 and 40 years before becoming eligible for parole, rather than automatically serving only the standard 25 years. The bill also creates two new procedures: 1. A new provision (section 745.22) requires that before the jury is dismissed, the judge must ask them if they wish to make a recommendation about how many years the offender should serve before parole eligibility (between 25 and 40 years). The jury is not required to make a recommendation. 2. A new provision (section 745.52) allows the sentencing judge to decide, based on the offender's character, the nature of the offences, the circumstances, and any jury recommendation, whether to substitute a number of years between 25 and 40 years for the standard 25-year minimum parole ineligibility period. The bill does not change the fact that these offenders must receive a life sentence; it only affects when they become eligible to apply for parole.
- Amends section 745 of the Criminal Code to add a new paragraph (a.1) that creates a specific sentencing framework for persons convicted of abduction, sexual assault, and murder of the same victim in the same event or series of events
- Allows a sentencing judge to impose a parole ineligibility period of between 25 and 40 years (instead of the standard 25 years) for offenders falling within this new category
- Adds section 745.22 to require the judge to ask the jury, before discharging them, whether they wish to make a recommendation about the number of years the offender should serve before parole eligibility
- Adds section 745.52 to allow the sentencing judge to decide the actual parole ineligibility period (between 25 and 40 years) based on the offender's character, nature of offences, circumstances, and any jury recommendation
- Specifies that abduction offences include those under sections 279, 280, 281, 282, or 283 of the Criminal Code
- Specifies that sexual assault offences include those under sections 151-153.1, 271, 272, or 273 of the Criminal Code
- Persons convicted of abduction, sexual assault, and murder of the same victim in the same event or series of events
- Sentencing judges in cases involving convictions for abduction, sexual assault, and murder of the same victim
- Juries in criminal trials where the accused is convicted of abduction, sexual assault, and murder of the same victim
- Families and victims of persons murdered after being abducted and sexually assaulted
- Parole boards and correctional authorities responsible for administering sentences and considering parole applications
- A person convicted of abduction, sexual assault, and murder of the same victim must receive a life sentence
- A sentencing judge must impose a parole ineligibility period of at least 25 years for such convictions
- A sentencing judge has discretion to impose a parole ineligibility period of more than 25 years but not more than 40 years
- Before discharging a jury, a judge must ask whether the jury wishes to make a recommendation about parole ineligibility years
- A jury's recommendation (if made) must be considered by the judge when deciding the parole ineligibility period
- The judge must consider the offender's character, the nature of the offences, and the circumstances when deciding the parole ineligibility period
- The bill text does not specify a commencement date; it will come into force on a date to be set by order of the Governor in Council or upon Royal Assent, depending on the bill's progress and any applicable provisions not visible in the excerpts provided
- The bill text does not specify direct financial or tax impacts
- The bill does not create new criminal penalties; it modifies the sentencing framework for existing Criminal Code offences (abduction, sexual assault, and murder)
- The bill text does not clarify what 'event or series of events' means in practical terms; it is unclear whether multiple separate criminal incidents could qualify or whether they must occur in temporal or spatial proximity
- The bill does not define how much weight a judge must give to a jury recommendation, or under what circumstances a judge might disregard it
- The bill does not specify what factors related to 'character of the offender' should be most relevant to the parole ineligibility decision
- The bill does not specify a commencement date
- It is unclear whether the new provisions apply retroactively to persons already convicted and sentenced, or only to future convictions
Adds a new paragraph (a.1) that establishes a new sentencing requirement for persons convicted of abduction, sexual assault, and murder of the same victim in the same event or series of events, allowing judges to impose parole ineligibility periods of 25 to 40 years instead of the standard 25 years
Source: Section 2 of Bill S-224
Establishes a new requirement that judges must ask juries, before discharge, whether they wish to make a recommendation regarding the number of years an offender should serve before parole eligibility when the offender has been convicted of abduction, sexual assault, and murder of the same victim
Source: Section 3 of Bill S-224
Grants judges the authority to substitute a parole ineligibility period of 25 to 40 years (in place of the standard 25 years) for offenders convicted of abduction, sexual assault, and murder of the same victim, based on consideration of the offender's character, the nature of the offences, circumstances, and any jury recommendation
Source: Section 4 of Bill S-224
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-224, proposing changes to parole ineligibility rules, completed its first reading in the Senate and subsequently underwent second reading debate.
Bill S-224, concerning amendments to the Criminal Code related to parole ineligibility, had its first reading in the Senate on February 17, 2021. It later proceeded to second reading, where a speech was made by the sponsor, Senator Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu, on March 16, 2021. The provided text also lists similar bills that have been introduced in the House of Commons and previous Parliaments.
On February 17, 2021, the Senate introduced Bill S-224 for first reading and engaged in debates on various matters, including extensive discussions and a third reading vote on Bill C-7 regarding medical assistance in dying.
This artifact is a record of the Senate sitting on February 17, 2021. During this sitting, Bill S-224, an Act to amend the Criminal Code (increasing parole ineligibility), was introduced and received first reading. This means the bill was formally presented to the Senate. The rest of the sitting included other Senate business such as tabling documents, discussing other bills, and debating various topics including COVID-19, human rights, and Indigenous health. The record also includes lengthy debates on Bill C-7, concerning medical assistance in dying, which concluded with a third reading vote.
On March 16, 2021, the Senate began debate on Bill S-224, an Act to amend the Criminal Code regarding parole ineligibility, with the stage not yet completed.
Bill S-224, concerning amendments to the Criminal Code to increase parole ineligibility periods, was at the second reading stage in the Senate on March 16, 2021. The text indicates that the stage was not completed. A sponsor's speech by Senator Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu was delivered on this date. The artifact also lists several similar private member's bills previously introduced in the House of Commons and Senate.
On March 16, 2021, the Senate engaged in routine proceedings, question period, and extensive debates on multiple bills, including those related to medical assistance in dying, trade, employment insurance, and criminal code amendments, with a significant focus on Senate amendments to Bill C-7.
The Senate met on March 16, 2021. The sitting included statements by senators on various topics, routine proceedings where reports were presented and notices of motions were given, and question period where senators asked questions of the Government Representative. The Orders of the Day included continuation of debates on several bills, second reading of various bills, and third reading of Bill C-18. Several bills were introduced, including Bill S-227 (National Ribbon Skirt Day), Bill S-228 (trafficking in persons), and Bill S-229 (decriminalization of illegal substances). A significant portion of the sitting was dedicated to the debate on Bill C-7, concerning medical assistance in dying, and the Senate's consideration of messages from the House of Commons regarding amendments. There was also debate on Bill S-204 (trafficking in human organs), Bill S-205 (Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate), Bill S-209 (voting age), Bill S-213 (women and gender equality act), Bill S-222 (charitable sector), and Bill S-224 (increasing parole ineligibility). The sitting concluded with the adjournment of the Senate.
The Senate debated Bill S-224 at second reading, a bill aiming to increase parole ineligibility periods for certain murder offenses, with the debate remaining incomplete.
This artifact is a record of debate in the Senate on March 16, 2021, regarding Bill S-224, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (increasing parole ineligibility). The debate at this stage, second reading, was not completed. The record includes various Senate proceedings such as Senators' Statements, Routine Proceedings, Question Period, and Orders of the Day, in addition to the main debate.
Bill S-224, which aims to amend the Criminal Code regarding parole ineligibility, has not yet reached the Senate's Third Reading stage, with its latest activity being a Second Reading debate.
This record indicates that Bill S-224, concerning amendments to the Criminal Code related to parole ineligibility, has not yet reached the Third Reading stage in the Senate. The bill's most recent activity was a debate at the Second Reading stage on Tuesday, March 16, 2021. The bill was first read on Wednesday, February 17, 2021.
The record shows Bill S-224 reached the House of Commons First Reading stage but has not yet occurred, while the bill is currently at Second Reading in the Senate.
This record indicates that Bill S-224, an Act to amend the Criminal Code concerning parole ineligibility, has reached the 'First reading' stage in the House of Commons. However, the source text explicitly states this stage has 'Not reached', meaning this procedural step has not yet occurred. The bill's current overall status is 'At second reading in the Senate', and its latest activity was a debate at that stage on March 16, 2021.
Bill S-224 has not reached the second reading stage in the House of Commons, while it is currently at second reading in the Senate.
This artifact indicates that Bill S-224, concerning amendments to the Criminal Code related to parole ineligibility, has not yet reached the second reading stage in the House of Commons. The bill is currently at the second reading stage in the Senate. The provided information also lists similar bills that have been introduced in past parliamentary sessions.
Bill S-224 has not yet undergone committee consideration in the House of Commons and is currently at second reading in the Senate.
This artifact indicates that Bill S-224 has not yet reached the stage of 'Consideration in committee' 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 up to its second reading in the Senate and lists similar bills that have been introduced in Parliament.
This record shows that Bill S-224 has not yet reached the Report stage in the House of Commons and is currently at the second reading stage in the Senate.
This artifact concerns Bill S-224 and indicates that the House of Commons Report stage for this bill has not yet been 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 its first and second readings, and notes a speech by Senator Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu on March 16, 2021. It also lists several similar private member's bills that have been introduced in previous parliamentary sessions, providing their status and progression.
Bill S-224 has not yet reached the Third Reading stage in the House of Commons and is currently at the Second Reading stage in the Senate.
This artifact indicates that Bill S-224 has not yet reached the Third Reading stage in the House of Commons. The bill is currently at the Second Reading stage in the Senate, having had its first reading on February 17, 2021, and its second reading debate on March 16, 2021. The artifact also lists similar bills that have been introduced in previous or the current 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