Bill C-13 · 37th Parliament · Paul Martin
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (capital markets fraud and evidence-gathering)
Government bill. Became law.
- IntroducedFeb. 12, 2004
- Debated in principleFeb. 12, 2004
- Studied by a committeeDone
- Passed its first chamberFeb. 12, 2004
- Passed the second chamberMarch 21, 2004
- Became lawMarch 29, 2004
Leading supporters
Ranked by the part each played: who is responsible for the bill, who carried it, and who spoke for it most.
- Paul MartinPrime Minister
Who carries this bill
Arrows run from the person responsible to those who answer to them on this bill. The critic leads the Senate’s scrutiny and answers to no one on it.
Where members stand
Votes and debate for this bill have not been read yet.
How it changed on the way
The texts have not been compared yet.
How precisely it is written
mixedChallenging the law: ModerateDisputing a charge: Moderate
The bill mixes narrow, numbered rules and defined terms with several subjective standards that invite argument. Specific offences, penalties, and production-order thresholds sit beside broad sentencing factors and judicial discretion.
Open to argument
“the high regard in which the offender was held in the community”
Subjective community-perception test that lacks an objective benchmark.“terms and conditions that the justice or judge considers advisable in the circumstances”
Grants wide discretion without statutory limits or defined factors.
Clear-cut
“liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding four”
Fixed maximum sentence stated in clear numbers.
Discretion. Judges decide terms of production orders and weigh aggravating sentencing factors with no further limits or regulations required.
Challenging the law itself. Vague phrases such as potential economic effect and community regard could support a s. 7 Charter vagueness or overbreadth claim.
Disputing a charge under it. Objective elements like fixed penalties and defined inside information allow ready disputes, but subjective sentencing factors and judicial discretion complicate challenges.
Read by a language model from the royal assent text; every quoted phrase appears in the bill. A reading of the drafting, not legal advice.
Did it work?
no evaluation found
Who lobbied on it
No lobbying registration naming this bill is loaded.
Stages and dates from LEGISinfo.