Bill C-345: An Act to protect firefighters, paramedics and other first responders

R.S., c. C-46 Criminal Code 1 Section 2 of the Criminal Code is amended by adding the following in alphabetical order: first responder  means a person who is employed, or formally engaged on a volunteer basis, to be among the first on the scene of an accident, fire or other emergency to provide medical assistance or firefighting services, and includes an emergency medical technician, a paramedic and a firefighter; ( premier répondant ) 2 Subparagraphs (a)(xliii.1) and (xliii.2) of the definition offence in section 183 of the Act are replaced by the following: (xliii.1) section 270.01 (assaulting peace officer or first responder with weapon or causing bodily harm), (xliii.2) section 270.02 (aggravated assault of peace officer or first responder ), 3 Subsection 231(4) of the Act is amended by striking out “or” at the end of paragraph (b), by adding “or” at the end of paragraph (c) and by adding the following after paragraph (c): (d) a first responder acting in the course of their duties. 4 Subsection 268(2) of the Act is replaced by the following: Punishment (2) Every one who commits an aggravated assault is guilty of an indictable offence and liable (a) if the complainant is a person described in subsection 231(4), to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 20 years; and (b) in any other case , to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years. 5 Paragraph 270(1)(a) of the Act is replaced by the following: (a) assaults a public officer, peace officer or first responder engaged in the execution of their duty or a person acting in aid of such an officer or first responder ; 6 (1) Subparagraphs (a)(xi.1) and (xi.2) of the definition primary designated offence in section 487.04 of the Act are replaced by the following: (xi.1) section 270.01 (assaulting peace officer or first responder with weapon or causing bodily harm), (xi.2) section 270.02 (aggravated assault of peace officer or first responder ), (2) Subparagraph (c)(viii) of the definition secondary designated offence in section 487.04 of the Act is replaced by the following: (viii) section 270 (assaulting a peace officer or a first responder ), 7 Subparagraph (b)(xvii) of the definition designated offence in section 752 of the Act is replaced by the following: (xvii) paragraph 270(1)(a) (assaulting peace officer or first responder ), Consequential Amendments R.S., c. C-44; 1994, c. 24, s. 1(F) Canada Business Corporations Act 8 Paragraphs 1(z.017) to (z.019) of the schedule to the Canada Business Corporations Act are replaced by the following: (z.017) subsection 270(1) (assaulting a peace officer or first responder ); (z.018) subsection 270.01(1) (assaulting peace officer or first responder with weapon or causing bodily harm); (z.019) section 270.02 (aggravated assault of peace officer or first responder ); 1992, c. 20 Corrections and Conditional Release Act 9 Paragraphs 1(x) to (x.2) of Schedule I to the Corrections and Conditional Release Act are replaced with the following: (x) section 270 (assaulting a peace officer or a first responder ); (x.1) section 270.01 (assaulting peace officer or first responder with weapon or causing bodily harm); (x.2) section 270.02 (aggravated assault of peace officer or first responder );