Bill C-15 · 40th Parliament · Stephen Harper
An Act to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts
Government bill. Died when Parliament ended.
- IntroducedFeb. 27, 2009
- Debated in principleMarch 27, 2009
- Studied by a committeeDone
- Passed its first chamberJune 8, 2009
- Passed the second chamberDec. 13, 2009
- Became lawNot reached
Leading supporters
Ranked by the part each played: who is responsible for the bill, who carried it, and who spoke for it most.
- Stephen HarperPrime Minister
- John D. WallaceSenate · Sponsor in the Senate
- Daniel PetitMoves second reading and presents the bill positively as part of the national anti-drug strategy.
- Brent RathgeberHe supports the bill at third reading after committee amendments and opposes removing mandatory minimums.
- Kirsty DuncanExplicitly rises to support Bill C-15 as part of measures against gang violence and substance abuse.
- Rick NorlockHe defends the government's actions on policing and prevention tied to the bill.
- Shelly GloverDefends mandatory minimums, prioritizes safety over concerns about court backlogs, and quotes experts in favor.
- Brian Jeandefends mandatory sentences by highlighting costs of crime and repeat offenders.
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.
What it set out to do
On 27 February 2009, the Minister of Justice introduced Bill C-15, An Act to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts, in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. Its intention is to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) to provide for minimum penalties for serious drug offences, such as dealing drugs for organized crime purposes or when a weapon or violence is involved. Currently, there are no mandatory minimum penalties under the CDSA. The bill also increases the maximum penalty for cannabis (marihuana) production and reschedules certain substances from Schedule III of the Act to Schedule I. The bill contains an exception that allows courts not to impose a mandatory sentence if an offender successfully completes a Drug Treatment Court (DTC) program. This program is designed to assist certain individuals who are charged with drug-related offences (should they meet certain eligibility criteria) to overcome their drug addictions and avoid future conflict with the law. It involves a mix of judicial supervision, social services support, incentives for refraining from drug use, and sanctions …
Summary by the Library of Parliament.
Where members stand
That Bill C-15 be amended by deleting Clause 3. · 2009-06-03 · Failed
How it changed on the way
Only laws are compared, introduced against passed.
How precisely it is written
The drafting has not been read yet.
Did it work?
Only laws in force for two years or more are checked.
Who lobbied on it
No lobbying registration naming this bill is loaded.
Stages and dates from LEGISinfo.