Home
/
Bills
/

C-14

SENATEAT3RDREADING

45th Parliament · Session 1

Bill C-14: An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Youth Criminal Justice Act and the National Defence Act (bail and sentencing)

Bail and Sentencing Reform Act

Introduced

October 23, 2025

Current Stage

SenateAt3rdReading

Last Updated

May 27, 2026

Sponsor

Sean Fraser

Community Support

Community Vote

50% Support

2 votes

Support

Undecided/Abstain

Oppose

Cast Your Vote

Your vote helps inform others

Engagement

Votes

2

Comments

0

Follows

0

Parliamentary Votes

0

Statements

533

Bill C-14

Wed May 27 2026

An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Youth Criminal Justice Act and the National Defence Act (bail and sentencing)

Impact Rating

4/5

Short Summary

Makes bail much harder for repeat violent offenders and car thieves, and increases jail time for assaults on transit workers and first responders.

Bail Reform
Public Safety
Auto Theft
Sentencing
Youth Justice

This bill introduces stricter bail and sentencing rules to address public safety concerns, specifically targeting repeat violent offenders, auto theft, and crimes against essential workers. It makes it harder for people accused of certain crimes (like violent car theft, home invasions, and domestic violence involving strangulation) to get out of jail on bail while awaiting trial. It also forces judges to impose harsher, consecutive sentences for specific repeat offences and expands the ability of police to identify dangerous young offenders in emergencies.

Why does this bill exist?

Origin (Public Outcry/Event)

Response to a spike in violent carjackings, attacks on transit workers, and high-profile crimes committed by offenders out on bail.

  • Harder Bail (Reverse Onus): For crimes like violent vehicle theft, breaking into homes, and weapon offences (if the person has a history of violence), the accused must now prove why they should be released, rather than the court proving why they should stay.

  • Stricter Surety Rules: A person cannot bail someone out (act as a surety) if they have been convicted of a serious crime (indictable offence) in the last 10 years.

  • Consecutive Sentencing: Jail time for repeat auto theft or break-ins must now be served one after another (consecutively) rather than at the same time, leading to longer total prison stays.

  • Youth Privacy Lift: Police will be allowed to publish the name and photo of a young offender (under 18) without a court order if there is an imminent danger to the public.

  • Protection for Workers: Courts must treat assaults against public transit employees, healthcare workers, and first responders as 'aggravating circumstances,' leading to tougher sentences.

  • Domestic Violence: Accused individuals charged with choking, suffocating, or strangling a partner will face stricter bail conditions and a harder time getting released.

  • House Arrest Restrictions: Conditional sentences (serving time at home) are no longer available for sexual assaults or sexual crimes involving minors.

Transit & Healthcare Workers

(Rights Expanded)

Attacks against you now carry heavier mandatory penalties for the attacker.

Accused Persons (Repeat)

(Harder)

If you have a history of violence, you will likely stay in jail until your trial ends.

Families of Accused

(Harder)

If you have a criminal record from the last 10 years, you are banned from acting as a surety (signing bail) for your relative.

Provincial Impact

Provincial Impact

High (Requires Provincial Action/Funding) Interaction

This is a federal Criminal Code change, but provinces administer the courts and jails. A 'tougher on bail' policy directly results in more people sitting in provincial jails, increasing provincial budgets significantly.

Benefits & Pros

Keeps dangerous repeat offenders off the streets while they await trial.

Provides stronger deterrence and penalties for the rising crisis of auto theft.

Increases safety and legal recognition for bus drivers, nurses, and first responders who face workplace violence.

Prevents the 'revolving door' legal system where offenders are released immediately after arrest.

Beneficiaries

Public Transit Workers
Healthcare Workers
Victims of Domestic Violence
Police Associations

Risks & Cons

Will significantly increase overcrowding in provincial jails (remand centres).

May face constitutional challenges under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms (right to reasonable bail).

Strict surety rules may prevent family members with old, unrelated criminal records from helping relatives get bail.

Longer sentences and consecutive terms increase costs for taxpayers without necessarily rehabilitating offenders.

Affected Groups

Provincial Governments (Correctional costs)
Repeat Offenders
Civil Liberties Associations

Before & After

Currently, a person arrested for a third break-in is often granted bail because the law assumes they should be released. If convicted, their sentences for multiple break-ins might run at the same time (3 years total). Under this Bill, they would likely be denied bail. If convicted, their sentences would run consecutively (e.g., 2 years + 2 years = 4 years total).

Real World Scenario

Currently: A man assaults a bus driver. He is released on bail the next day. At sentencing, the judge treats it as a standard assault. Under this Bill: The man faces a tougher bail hearing. At sentencing, the judge is legally required to treat the fact that the victim was a bus driver as an 'aggravating circumstance,' increasing the jail time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sponsor

Sean Fraser

Member of Parliament

House of Commons

First reading

Completed on October 23, 2025

Second reading

Completed on November 18, 2025

Consideration in committee

Completed on February 9, 2026

Report stage

Completed on February 13, 2026

Third reading

Completed on February 13, 2026

Senate

First reading

Completed on February 24, 2026

Second reading

Completed on March 12, 2026

Consideration in committee

Completed on May 26, 2026

Report stage

Completed on May 27, 2026

Third reading

Not yet started

Abuse Potential

The expansion of police powers to name young offenders without a court order (Section 70) carries a risk. While intended for 'imminent danger,' if this definition is stretched by police, it could permanently stigmatize minors who haven't been convicted. Additionally, the rigid ban on sureties with a 10-year-old record (Section 23) removes judicial discretion; a parent who committed a financial crime 9 years ago would be legally barred from bailing out their child, which could be considered an overreach effectively denying bail to low-income families with prior police contact.

Implementation Risk

Moderate. The main risk is a bottleneck in the court system. Bail hearings will become longer and more contested as the burden of proof shifts, potentially slowing down an already backed-up legal system.

Broad Economic Impact

Indirect

Everyday Life

Minimal impact

Admin Burden

Administrative change only

Timeline

30 days after Royal Assent.