Bill C-54 · 41th Parliament · Stephen Harper
Not Criminally Responsible Reform Act
An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the National Defence Act (mental disorder)
Government bill. Died when Parliament ended.
- IntroducedFeb. 8, 2013
- Debated in principleMay 28, 2013
- Studied by a committeeDone
- Passed its first chamberJune 18, 2013
- 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
- Robert GoguenStates direct support and that the bill reflects victim voices and public safety needs.
- Mike WallaceHe praises the committee process and government action on the bill.
- Joe OliverStates full support for the government's introduction of the bill.
- David Wilksexpresses pleasure at debating the bill and personal connection as a former officer.
- Alain Giguèreexplicitly states support despite discomfort
- Randall GarrisonHe states he supports the bill in principle and speaks in favour at third reading.
- Kyle SeebackHe reviews the legislation positively after hearing witnesses at committee.
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 8 February 2013, the Minister of Justice introduced Bill C-54, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the National Defence Act (mental disorder) (Not Criminally Responsible Reform Act), in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. The Criminal Code mental disorder regime applies to a very small percentage of accused persons. Under Canadian criminal law, if an accused person cannot understand the nature of the trial, or its consequences, and cannot communicate with their lawyer on account of a mental disorder, the court will find that the person is “unfit to stand trial.” Once an accused becomes fit to stand trial, they will then be tried for the offence with which they were initially charged. If a person is found to have committed the act that constitutes an offence, but lacked the capacity to appreciate what they did or know that it was wrong due to a mental disorder at the time, the court makes a special verdict of “Not Criminally Responsible on Account of Mental Disorder” (NCR). They are neither convicted, nor acquitted. A person found either unfit to stand trial or NCR is referred to a provincial or territorial Review Board, who decides on a course of action. Under…
Summary by the Library of Parliament.
Where members stand
That · 2013-05-27 · Passed
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.