SENATEAT2NDREADING

Private Member's Bill

45th Parliament · Session 1

Bill C-225: An Act to amend the Criminal Code

Introduced

September 18, 2025

Current Stage

SenateAt2ndReading

Last Updated

April 28, 2026

Sponsor

Frank Caputo

Community Support

Community Vote

100% Support

1 votes

Politicians' Vote

98% Support

333 MPs

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Bill C-225

Tue Apr 28 2026

An Act to amend the Criminal Code

Impact Rating

4/5

Short Summary

Tougher laws for domestic violence: Murder of an intimate partner is first degree; higher penalties for assault; and stricter bail rules for repeat abusers.

Intimate Partner Violence

Domestic Violence

Criminal Code

Sentencing Reform

Bail Reform

Detailed Analysis

This bill significantly changes how the Canadian justice system handles intimate partner violence by increasing penalties and reforming the bail process. It makes the murder of an intimate partner automatically first degree murder and creates specific, higher-penalty offences for intimate partner harassment, threats, and all levels of assault. The bill also forces repeat offenders to face a judge for a bail hearing instead of being released by a police officer. Separately, it grants police and prosecutors more time—up to two years—to hold property seized during any criminal investigation.

Why does this bill exist?

Origin (Public Outcry/Event)

This bill is a response to persistent public and political concern over the high rates of intimate partner violence and homicide in Canada.

Key Points

The murder of an intimate partner is automatically classified as first degree murder, which carries a sentence of life imprisonment with no parole eligibility for 25 years.
The bill creates distinct Criminal Code offences for criminal harassment, uttering threats, and all categories of assault (simple, with a weapon, aggravated) when the victim is an intimate partner.
The maximum prison sentence for simple assault against an intimate partner is increased from 5 years to 10 years.
Police officers are forbidden from releasing a person arrested for an intimate partner offence if the person has a prior intimate partner conviction or is already out on bail for a similar charge. This forces a formal bail hearing before a judge.
A court can order an accused person to be detained for seven days to undergo a risk-of-reoffending assessment, which can be requested by the victim (intimate partner) at any stage of the proceedings.
The maximum initial period for detaining property seized by police in any criminal investigation is extended from three months to one year.
The total cumulative time police can hold seized property is extended from one year to two years.
A judge can grant an order to detain seized property without notifying the owner if the judge believes informing them would jeopardize the police investigation.

Impact By Group

Victims of Intimate Partner Violence

(Rights Expanded)

Gains a formal right to apply to the court for a risk-of-reoffending assessment of the accused, which must be completed within seven days.

Individuals Accused of Intimate Partner Violence

(Harder)

Face significantly higher maximum sentences for assault charges and may be automatically detained for a mandatory judicial bail hearing and a seven-day risk assessment.

Everyday Citizens (Subject to Investigation)

(Rights Restricted)

Police can hold their seized property for up to two years instead of one, and they may not receive notice of the seizure if a judge allows it to protect an investigation.

Provincial Impact

Low (Information Sharing) Interaction

The Criminal Code is federal, but provinces are responsible for the administration of justice. Provincial police forces, prosecutors, courts, and correctional services will need to manage the increased volume of mandatory judicial bail hearings and the new risk assessment orders.

Benefits & Pros

Sends a clear, strong message that intimate partner homicide is considered the most serious form of murder under Canadian law.

Provides victims with an expanded right to request a court-ordered risk assessment, which can influence the accused person's bail and supervision conditions.

The mandatory judicial bail hearing for repeat offenders should increase public safety and victim protection by preventing police from granting immediate release.

Longer periods for detaining seized evidence (up to 2 years) will help police and prosecutors handle complex, long-term investigations more effectively.

Beneficiaries

Victims and survivors of intimate partner violence

Police and Crown prosecutors

Advocacy groups for domestic violence victims

Risks & Cons

The creation of specific intimate partner offences, while sending a message, may lead to complexity or redundancy in the Criminal Code.

The significant extension of the time police can hold seized property infringes on a citizen's right to their belongings for a much longer period.

The increased number of mandatory judicial bail hearings and risk assessments will place an immediate, heavy burden on court systems and justice resources.

The increase in maximum sentences for simple and aggravated assault against an intimate partner could lead to more Charter challenges related to sentencing.

Affected Groups

Individuals accused of intimate partner violence

Individuals whose property is seized during a criminal investigation

Before & After

Currently, if an abusive partner commits a simple assault against their intimate partner, the maximum sentence under the general assault provision is 5 years. Under this bill, the specific offence of assaulting an intimate partner carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.

Real World Scenario

Currently: A person is arrested for criminally harassing their ex-spouse. The police check their record, see a conviction for assault 4 years ago, but still have the discretion to release them from the station on conditions. Under this Bill: The police officer is legally required to hold that person and present them to a judge or justice of the peace for a formal bail hearing.

Frequently Asked Questions

If someone kills their partner, will they automatically go to jail for life?

If a person has a history of domestic abuse, can the police still release them from the station?

Votes on this bill

Vote 51

Agreed To

2nd reading of Bill C-225, An Act to amend the Criminal Code

Wed Dec 03 2025

Yeas: 325

Nays: 0

Total: 333

Sponsor

Frank Caputo

Member of Parliament

House of Commons

First reading

Completed on September 18, 2025

Second reading

Completed on December 3, 2025

Consideration in committee

Completed on March 12, 2026

Report stage

Completed on April 13, 2026

Third reading

Completed on April 27, 2026

Senate

First reading

Completed on April 28, 2026

Second reading

Not yet started

Third reading

Not yet started

Abuse Potential

The most significant risk lies in the amendments to Section 490 regarding seized property. The bill allows a judge to authorize the detention of a citizen's property for up to two years without requiring the police or prosecutor to notify the owner. This lack of notification, if deemed to 'jeopardize an investigation,' is vague and grants the state significant power to keep a citizen's assets or evidence with minimal transparency. This could theoretically be misused in non-domestic cases (like protests or corporate investigations) to hold property and delay due process, even if the investigation is not complex enough to warrant such an extensive detention period.

Financial Impact

Administrative change only. The bill will indirectly increase costs for the justice system due to more mandatory bail hearings, detentions for risk assessments, and longer periods for storing seized property.

Implementation Risk

The main risk is the strain on the judicial system. The mandate for more judicial bail hearings for repeat offenders will immediately increase the court docket pressure. Furthermore, the court and mental health systems must rapidly develop and implement the necessary capacity to conduct the new seven-day 'risk-of-reoffending assessments' without causing significant backlogs.

Broad Economic Impact

Indirect

Everyday Life

Minimal impact

Admin Burden

Requires new forms

Timeline

Immediate upon Royal Assent, as the changes apply to the Criminal Code and judicial procedures.

Bill Text Versions

3 Versions

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Summary

This enactment amends the Criminal Code in order to: (a) create a new specific offence of murder in the first degree if the murder is committed against an intimate partner in the context of a pattern of coercive or controlling conduct; (b) provide that, if an offender commits manslaughter against their intimate partner while engaging in, or after having engaged in, a pattern of coercive or controlling conduct, the court must consider whether to impose a sentence of imprisonment for life on the offender and, if that sentence is imposed, an adult offender is ineligible for parole for 10 to 25 years; (c) create new offences in respect of included offences in which violence is used, threatened or attempted against an intimate partner; and (d) increase the detention period of things seized under section 490 of the Act from three months to 180 days.

Full Text

R.S., c. C- 46 Criminal Code 1 Section 231 of the Criminal Code is amended by adding the following after subsection (3): Murder of intimate partner (3.1) Irrespective of whether a murder is planned and deliberate on the part of any person, murder is first degree murder when the victim is that person’s intimate partner and the death is caused by that person while engaging in, or after having engaged in, a pattern of coercive or controlling conduct with intent to cause the victim to believe that the victim’s physical or psychological safety is threatened. 1. 1 Section 236 of the Act is renumbered as subsection 236(1) and is amended by adding the following: Manslaughter of intimate partner (2) The court that imposes a sentence for manslaughter shall consider imposing a sentence of imprisonment for life if the person committed the manslaughter against their intimate partner while engaging in, or after having engaged in, a pattern of coercive or controlling conduct with intent to cause their intimate partner to believe that their physical or psychological safety is threatened. 2 The Act is amended by adding the following after section 263: Violence against intimate partner 263.1 (1) Everyone who commits an offence — referred to in this section as the “included offence” — in which violence is used, threatened or attempted against their intimate partner is (a) guilty of an indictable offence and liable to the punishment provided for in subsection (3); or (b) guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction. Limitation (2) No proceedings under subsection (1) shall be (a) commenced by way of indictment if the included offence may be prosecuted only by way of summary conviction proceedings; or (b) commenced by way of summary conviction proceedings if the included offence may be prosecuted only by way of indictment. Punishment (3) Everyone who is found guilty of an indictable offence under subsection (1) is liable to a term of imprisonment of not more than (a) five years, if the maximum term of imprisonment for the included offence is two years or more but less than five years; (b) 10 years, if the maximum term of imprisonment for the included offence is five years or more but less than 10 years; (c) 14 years, if the maximum term of imprisonment for the included offence is 10 years or more but less than 14 years; or (d) life, if the maximum term of imprisonment for the included offence is 14 years or more and up to imprisonment for life. Applicable provisions (4) Subject to paragraphs (1)(a) and (b) and subsections (2) and (3), any provision of this Act or any other Act of Parliament — including one in respect of procedure, orders or consequences — that would have been applicable in relation to the included offence applies in relation to an offence under subsection (1). 3 The portion of subsection 490(2) of the Act before paragraph (a) is replaced by the following: Further detention (2) Nothing shall be detained under the authority of paragraph (1)(b) for a period of more than 180 days after the day of the seizure, or any longer period that ends when an application made under paragraph (a) is decided, unless 4 Paragraph 515(6)(b.1) of the Act is replaced by the following: (b.1) with an offence in the commission of which violence was allegedly used, threatened or attempted against their intimate partner, and the accused (i) has been previously convicted or discharged under section 730 of an offence in the commission of which violence was used, threatened or attempted against any intimate partner of the accused, or (ii) was, at the time the offence is alleged to have been committed, subject to a recognizance entered into under section 810, 810.02, 810.03, 810.1 or 810.2, in the case where the information for the recognizance was laid on behalf of any intimate partner of the accused; 5 Section 662 of the Act is amended by adding the following after subsection (5): Offence under subsection 263.1(1) charged (5.1) For greater certainty, if a count charges an offence under subsection 263.1(1) and the evidence does not prove that offence but proves an included offence, the accused may be found guilty of the offence that is proved. 6 Paragraph (b) of the definition sentence in section 673 of the Act is replaced by the following: (b) an order made under subsection 109(1) or 110(1), section 161, subsection 164.2(1) or 194(1), section 320.24 or 462.37, subsection 491.1(2), 730(1) or 737(2.1) or (3) or section 738, 739, 742.1, 742.3, 743.6, 745.4, 745.5 or 745.52, 7 (1) Subsection 675(2) of the Act is replaced by the following: Appeal against absolute term in excess of 10 years (2) A person who has been convicted of second degree murder, or of manslaughter in the circumstances set out in subsection 236(2), and sentenced to imprisonment for life without eligibility for parole for a specified number of years in excess of 10 may appeal to the court of appeal against the number of years in excess of 10 of their imprisonment without eligibility for parole. (2) Subsection 675(2.2) of the Act is replaced by the following: Persons under 18 (2.2) A person who was under the age of 18 at the time of the commission of the offence for which the person was convicted of first degree murder, second degree murder or manslaughter in the circumstances set out in subsection 236(2) and was sentenced to imprisonment for life without eligibility for parole until the person has served the period specified by the judge presiding at the trial may appeal to the court of appeal against the number of years in excess of the minimum number of years of imprisonment without eligibility for parole that are required to be served in respect of that person’s case. 8 Subsection 676(4) of the Act is replaced by the following: Appeal against ineligible parole period (4) The Attorney General or counsel instructed by the Attorney General for the purpose may appeal to the court of appeal in respect of a conviction for second degree murder or manslaughter in the circumstances set out in subsection 236(2), against the number of years of imprisonment without eligibility for parole, being less than 25, that has been imposed as a result of that conviction. 9 Subsection 718.3(8) of the Act is repealed. 10 The Act is amended by adding the following after section 726.1: Endorsement — offence under subsection 263.1(1) 726. 11 When an offender is found guilty of an offence under subsection 263.1(1), the court shall endorse, on the information or indictment, the included offence that has been proved by the evidence and, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, the endorsement is proof of that fact. 11 Section 745 of the Act is amended by striking out “and” at the end of paragraph (c) and by adding the following after that paragraph: (c.1) in respect of a person who has been convicted of manslaughter in the circumstances set out in subsection 236(2), that the person be sentenced to imprisonment for life without eligibility for parole until the person has served at least 10 years of the sentence or the greater number of years, not being more than 25 years, that has been substituted for that 10 years under paragraph 745.52(1)(a); and 12 (1) The portion of section 745.1 of the Act before paragraph (a) is replaced by the following: Persons under 18 745. 1 The sentence to be pronounced against a person who was under the age of 18 at the time of the commission of the offence for which the person was convicted of first degree murder, second degree murder or manslaughter in the circumstances set out in subsection 236(2) and who is to be sentenced to imprisonment for life shall be that the person be sentenced to imprisonment for life without eligibility for parole until the person has served (2) Paragraph 745.1(c) of the Act is replaced by the following: (c) seven years, in the case of a person who was convicted of second degree murder or of manslaughter in the circumstances set out in subsection 236(2) and who was 16 or 17 years of age at the time of the commission of the offence. 13 The Act is amended by adding the following after section 745.51: Manslaughter in certain circumstances 745.52 (1) At the time of sentencing under paragraph 745(c.1) or 745.1(a) of an offender who is convicted of manslaughter in the circumstances set out in subsection 236(2), the judge who presided at the trial of the offender — or, if that judge is unable to do so, any judge of the same court — may, by order and as the judge considers fit in the circumstances, (a) substitute for 10 years a greater number of years, of up to 25, of imprisonment without eligibility for parole, in the case of a sentencing under paragraph 745(c.1); or (b) decide the period of imprisonment the offender is to serve that is between five and seven years without eligibility for parole, in the case of a sentencing under paragraph 745.1(a). Considerations (2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the judge shall have regard to the character of the offender, the nature of the offence and the circumstances surrounding its commission and, in respect of a decision under paragraph (1)(b), the age of the offender. 14 The portion of section 746 of the Act before paragraph (a) is replaced by the following: Time spent in custody 746 In calculating the period of imprisonment served for the purposes of section 745, 745.1, 745.4, 745.5, 745.52 or 745.6, there shall be included any time spent in custody between Transitional Provisions Sentencing for manslaughter 15 Subsection 236(2) of the Criminal Code does not apply with respect to an offence that is committed before the 30th day after the day on which this Act receives royal assent. Period for further detention — subsection 490(2) 16 Subsection 490(2) of the Criminal Code , as amended by section 3, applies with respect to any matter or proceeding that is ongoing on the 30th day after the day on which this Act receives royal assent. Coordinating Amendments Coordinating amendments with Bill C-16 — first degree murder 17 (1) This section applies if Bill C-16, introduced in the 1st session of the 45th Parliament and entitled the Protecting Victims Act (in this section referred to as the “other Act”), receives royal assent. (2) If section 25 of the other Act comes into force before section 1 of this Act, then that section 1 is repealed. (3) If section 1 of this Act comes into force before section 25 of the other Act, then, on the day on which that section 25 comes into force, subsection 231(3.1) of the Criminal Code is repealed. (4) If section 25 of the other Act and section 1 of this Act come into force on the same day, then that section 1 is deemed never to have come into force and is repealed. Coordinating amendments with Bill C-16 — manslaughter 18 (1) This section applies if Bill C-16, introduced in the 1st session of the 45th Parliament and entitled the Protecting Victims Act (in this section referred to as the “other Act”), receives royal assent. (2) If section 26 of the other Act comes into force before section 1.1 of this Act, then that section 1.1 and section 15 of this Act are repealed. (3) If section 1.1 of this Act comes into force before section 26 of the other Act, then (a) that section 26 is amended by replacing “Section 236 of the Act is renumbered as subsection 236(1) and is amended by adding” with “Subsection 236(2) of the Act is replaced by”; and (b) section 98 of the other Act is replaced with the following: Sentencing for manslaughter 98 Paragraphs 236(2)(b) to (d) of the Act do not apply with respect to an offence that is committed before the commencement day. (4) If section 26 of the other Act and section 1.1 of this Act come into force on the same day, then that section 1.1 and section 15 of this Act are deemed never to have come into force and are repealed. (5) If section 55 of the other Act comes into force before section 6 of this Act, then that section 6 is repealed. (6) If section 6 of this Act comes into force before section 55 of the other Act, then that section 55 is repealed. (7) If section 55 of the other Act and section 6 of this Act come into force on the same day, then that section 6 is deemed never to have come into force and is repealed. (8) If section 56 of the other Act comes into force before section 7 of this Act, then that section 7 is repealed. (9) If section 56 of the other Act and section 7 of this Act come into force on the same day, then that section 7 is deemed never to have come into force and is repealed. (10) If section 57 of the other Act comes into force before section 8 of this Act, then that section 8 is repealed. (11) If section 57 of the other Act and section 8 of this Act come into force on the same day, then that section 8 is deemed never to have come into force and is repealed. (12) If section 72 of the other Act comes into force before section 11 of this Act, then that section 11 is repealed. (13) If section 11 of this Act comes into force before section 72 of the other Act, then that section 72 is amended by replacing “Section 745 of the Act is amended by striking out “and” at the end of paragraph (c) and by adding the following after that paragraph” with “Paragraph 745(c.1) of the Act is replaced by the following”. (14) If section 72 of the other Act and section 11 of this Act come into force on the same day, then that section 11 is deemed never to have come into force and is repealed. (15) If section 73 of the other Act comes into force before section 12 of this Act, then that section 12 is repealed. (16) If section 73 of the other Act and section 12 of this Act come into force on the same day, then that section 12 is deemed never to have come into force and is repealed. (17) If section 74 of the other Act comes into force before section 13 of this Act, then that section 13 is repealed. (18) If section 13 of this Act comes into force before section 74 of the other Act, then that section 74 is amended by replacing “The Act is amended by adding the following after section 745.51” with “Section 745.52 of the Act is replaced by the following”. (19) If section 74 of the other Act and section 13 of this Act come into force on the same day, then that section 13 is deemed never to have come into force and is repealed. (20) If section 75 of the other Act comes into force before section 14 of this Act, then that section 14 is repealed. (21) If section 14 of this Act comes into force before section 75 of the other Act, then that section 75 is repealed. (22) If section 75 of the other Act and section 14 of this Act come into force on the same day, then that section 14 is deemed never to have come into force and is repealed. Coordinating amendments with Bill C-16 — intimate partner violence 19 (1) This section applies if Bill C-16, introduced in the 1st session of the 45th Parliament and entitled the Protecting Victims Act (in this section referred to as the “other Act”), receives royal assent. (2) On the first day on which subsection 2(1) of the other Act and section 2 of this Act are in force, subsection 3.01(2) of the Criminal Code is amended by adding the following after paragraph (b): (b.1) subsection 263.1(1); (3) If subsection 2(1) of the other Act comes into force before section 9 of this Act, then, on the day on which section 9 comes into force, paragraph 3.01(2)(g) of the Criminal Code is repealed. (4) If section 9 of this Act comes into force before subsection 2(1) of the other Act, then that subsection 2(1) is amended by repealing the paragraph 3.01(2)(g) that it enacts. (5) If subsection 2(1) of the other Act and section 9 of this Act come into force on the same day, then that section 9 is deemed to have come into force before that subsection 2(1) and subsection (4) applies as a consequence. Coordinating amendments with Bill C-16 — further detention 20 (1) This section applies if Bill C-16, introduced in the 1st session of the 45th Parliament and entitled the Protecting Victims Act (in this section referred to as the “other Act”), receives royal assent. (2) If section 44 of the other Act comes into force before section 3 of this Act, then that section 3 and section 16 of this Act are repealed. (3) If section 3 of this Act comes into force before section 44 of the other Act, then that section 44 and section 104 of the other Act are repealed. (4) If section 44 of the other Act and section 3 of this Act come into force on the same day, then that section 3 and section 16 of this Act are deemed never to have come into force and are repealed. Coming into Force 30th day after royal assent 21 The provisions of this Act, other than the provisions that are coordinating amendments, come into force on the 30th day after the day on which this Act receives royal assent.

Version History

April 27, 2026 at 11:03 PM

Doc ID: 14048955

March 12, 2026 at 11:03 PM

Doc ID: 13966413

September 19, 2025 at 02:22 PM

Doc ID: 13592907