Bill C-4 · 40th Parliament · Stephen Harper
Sébastien's Law (Protecting the Public from Violent Young Offenders)
An Act to amend the Youth Criminal Justice Act and to make consequential and related amendments to other Acts
Government bill. Died when Parliament ended.
- IntroducedMarch 16, 2010
- Debated in principleMay 3, 2010
- Studied by a committeeNot reached
- Passed its first chamberNot reached
- 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
- Harold AlbrechtPraises the bill's provisions and minister's leadership on the issue.
- Ed FastDefends the need for concrete steps to protect society from violent youth crime.
- Rob NicholsonIntroduces and defends the bill as necessary to hold youth accountable and protect the public.
- Brent RathgeberAgrees with releasing names in some cases and glad to support bill at second reading for committee study.
- Daniel PetitDefends the bill as government action to protect Canadians from violent youth offenders.
- Rick NorlockDefends government prison programs and criticizes opposition straying from bill support.
- Tom LukiwskiHighlights low public confidence in youth justice system to underscore need for reform.
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 16 March 2010, the Minister of Justice introduced Bill C-4, An Act to amend the Youth Criminal Justice Act (Sébastien’s Law (Protecting the Public from Violent Young Offenders)) and to make consequential and related amendments to other Acts in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. The bill amends the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Among other things, it • makes protection of society a primary goal of the act; • adds denunciation and deterrence to sentencing principles; • requires the Crown to consider seeking adult sentences for youth convicted of certain violent crimes, including murder, attempted murder, manslaughter and aggravated assault. The Crown would also be required to inform the court should they chose not to apply for an adult sentence; • requires that offenders under the age of 18 who are sentenced to custody will be placed in youth facilities only, even if they receive an adult sentence; • defines the terms “violent offence” and “serious offence”, amends the definition “serious violent offence” and repeals the definition “presumptive offence”; • allows the custody of young persons where they have committed an indictable offence for which an adult would b…
Summary by the Library of Parliament.
Where members stand
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.