Bill C-36 · 40th Parliament · Stephen Harper
Serious Time for the Most Serious Crime Act
An Act to amend the Criminal Code
Government bill. Died when Parliament ended.
- IntroducedJune 5, 2009
- Debated in principleJune 18, 2009
- Studied by a committeeDone
- Passed its first chamberNov. 25, 2009
- Passed the second chamberNot reached
- 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
- Brent RathgeberHe speaks against the amendment and criticizes the faint hope clause for ignoring victims.
- Peter JulianHe states his corner of the House will vote in favour of Bill C-36 to send it to committee.
- Daniel Petitmoves the bill and states its purpose is to protect society and victims by ending faint hope
- Ed FastHe defends the bill as addressing victims' grief caused by the faint hope clause.
- Jim AbbottAsks opposition to address the renewed trauma faced by victims' families from repeated parole applications.
- Blaine CalkinsCorrects record to affirm that multiple murderers remain eligible under the existing faint hope rules.
- Rick DykstraSpeaks in strong support of ending the faint hope clause via Bill C-36.
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 5 June 2009, the Minister of Justice introduced Bill C-36, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (Serious Time for the Most Serious Crime Act), in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. Under section 745.6 of the Criminal Code, known as the “faint hope” clause, offenders sentenced to life imprisonment can apply, at the 15-year mark in their sentence, for an earlier parole eligibility date. Bill C-36 amends section 745.6 such that offenders who commit murder on or after the day that this proposed legislation comes into force will no longer be eligible to apply for early parole. The faint hope regime would, however, still apply to those offenders who are currently serving or awaiting sentencing for murder, subject to certain stipulations contained within the bill.
Summary by the Library of Parliament.
Where members stand
That the motion be amended by deleting all the words after the word “That” and substituting the following: “Bill C-36 · 2009-11-25 · 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.