THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
OTTAWA, Tuesday, June 16, 2026
(50)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 9:01 a.m., in room W120, 1 Wellington St., the chair, the Honourable David M. Arnot, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Arnot, Batters, Clement, Dhillon, Housakos, LaBoucane-Benson, Miville-Dechêne, Oudar, Pate, Poirier, Prosper, Saint-Germain, Simons, Tannas and Wells (Alberta) (15).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Dalphond and Moncion (2).
Participating in the meeting: Dana Phillips and Allison Lowenger, Analysts, Library of Parliament.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Monday, June 15, 2026, the committee began its consideration of Bill C-16, An Act to amend certain Acts in relation to criminal and correctional matters (child protection, gender-based violence, delays and other measures).
WITNESSES:
Department of Justice Canada:
Matthew Taylor, Senior General Counsel and Director General, Criminal Law Policy Section;
Nathalie Levman, Senior Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section;
Chelsea Moore, Acting Team Lead and Legal Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section;
Leah Burt, Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section;
Jocelyn Sigouin, Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section;
Sandra Couture, Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section;
Normand Wong, Acting General Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section;
Michael Ellison, Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section;
Sarah Munsch, Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section.
Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces:
Colonel David Sinclair, Deputy Judge Advocate General, Military Justice Modernization, Office of the Judge Advocate General;
Lieutenant-Colonel Matt MacMillan, Director of Law, Military Justice Implementation, Military Justice Modernization, Office of the Judge Advocate General.
Public Safety Canada:
Stacey Ault, Director, Corrections and Criminal Justice Division;
Lyndon Murdock, Director, Corrections and Criminal Justice Division;
Amy Johnson, Director General, Firearms Policy Directorate.
Matthew Taylor and Nathalie Levman answered questions from time to time.
It was agreed that the committee proceed to clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-16.
It was agreed that the title stand postponed.
It was agreed that clause 1, which contains the short title, stand postponed.
It was agreed, with leave, that the remaining clauses be considered in groups of 10.
It was agreed that clauses 2 to 10 carry, on division.
The chair asked whether clauses 11 to 20 shall carry.
The Honourable Senator Simons moved that Bill C-16 be amended, in clause 15, on page 8, by replacing lines 1 and 2 with the following:
“plicit sexual activity.”.
After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was negatived.
It was agreed that clauses 11 to 20 carry, on division.
The chair asked whether clauses 21 to 30 shall carry.
The Honourable Senator Prosper moved that Bill C-16 be amended, in clause 28,
(a) on page 17,
(i) by replacing line 1 with the following:
“ner or relative to believe that the intimate partner’s or relative’s safety is threat-”,
(ii) by replacing lines 4 and 5 with the following:
“their intimate partner or relative to believe that the intimate partner’s or relative’s safety is threatened.”,
(iii) by replacing line 11 with the following:
“(i) the intimate partner or relative,”,
(iv) by replacing lines 13 and 14 with the following:
“mate partner’s or relative’s child or who is in the intimate partner’s or relative’s lawful care or charge,”,
(v) by replacing line 16 with the following:
“ner or relative, or”,
(vi) by replacing line 18 with the following:
“ner or relative;”,
(vii) by replacing line 20 with the following:
“ner or relative to engage in sexual activity;”,
(viii) by replacing lines 24 and 25 with the following:
“be expected to cause the intimate partner or relative to believe that the intimate partner’s or relative’s safety, or the safety of any-”,
(ix) by replacing line 28 with the following:
“the intimate partner’s or relative’s location, movements, actions”,
(x) by replacing line 32 with the following:
“in which the intimate partner or relative cares for any person”,
(xi) by replacing line 37 with the following:
“related to the intimate partner’s or relative’s employment or ed-”,
(xii) by replacing line 40 with the following:
“mate partner’s or relative’s finances or other property or moni-”,
(xiii) by replacing line 43 with the following:
“mate partner’s or relative’s expression of gender, physical ap-”;
(b) on page 18,
(i) by replacing line 4 with the following:
“mate partner’s or relative’s expression of their thoughts, their”,
(ii) by replacing line 6 of the English version with the following:
“or their culture, including the intimate partner’s or relative’s”,
(iii) by replacing line 12 with the following:
“damage, the intimate partner’s or relative’s property or the”,
(iv) by replacing lines 16 and 17 with the following:
“and the intimate partner or relative, in particular whether the intimate partner or relative is in a position of vulnerability in relation to”,
(v) by replacing line 19 with the following:
“timate partner or relative by targeting their vulnerabilities.”.
After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was negatived.
It was agreed that clauses 21 to 30 carry, on division.
It was agreed that clauses 31 to 40 carry, on division.
The chair asked whether clauses 41 to 50 shall carry.
The Honourable Senator Prosper moved that Bill C-16 be amended, in clause 46, on page 61, by adding the following after line 25:
“(c.1) the prejudice of unreasonable delay to the administration of justice;”.
After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was negatived.
It was agreed that clauses 41 to 50 carry, on division.
It was agreed that clauses 51 to 60 carry, on division.
The chair asked whether clauses 61 to 70 shall carry.
The Honourable Senator Pate moved that Bill C-16 be amended, in clause 63, on page 75,
(a) by replacing lines 21 to 27 with the following:
“prisonment or period of parole ineligibility, a court shall impose a sentence other than the specified term of imprisonment or period of parole ineligibility if, in the circumstances and considering the sentencing principle set out in paragraph 718.2(e), the minimum punishment would amount to cruel and unusual punishment for that individual or would otherwise infringe upon any of that individual’s rights or freedoms guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.”;
(b) by replacing line 30 with the following:
“(4) A court that imposes a sentence other than the minimum punishment”;
(c) by replacing line 33 with the following:
“(5) For the purposes of this Part, a shorter term of im-”.
After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was negatived on the following vote:
YEAS
The Honourable Senators
Arnot, Clement, Pate, Prosper, Simons — [5]
NAYS
The Honourable Senators
Batters, Dhillon, Housakos, LaBoucane-Benson, Miville-Dechêne, Oudar, Poirier, Saint-Germain, Tannas, Wells — [10]
ABSTENTIONS
Nil — [0]
It was agreed that clauses 61 to 70 carry, on division.
It was agreed that clauses 71 to 80 carry, on division.
It was agreed that clauses 81 to 86 carry, on division.
The chair asked whether clause 87 shall carry.
After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was adopted on the following vote:
YEAS
The Honourable Senators
Arnot, Batters, Dhillon, LaBoucane-Benson, Miville-Dechêne, Oudar, Poirier, Saint-Germain, Tannas, Wells — [10]
NAYS
The Honourable Senators
Clement, Pate, Prosper, Simons — [4]
ABSTENTIONS
Nil — [0]
It was agreed that clauses 87 to 90 carry, on division.
It was agreed that clauses 91 to 100 carry, on division.
It was agreed that clauses 101 to 110 carry, on division.
It was agreed that clauses 111 to 120 carry, on division.
It was agreed that clauses 121 to 130 carry, on division.
It was agreed that clauses 131 to 140 carry, on division.
It was agreed that clauses 141 to 150 carry, on division.
It was agreed that clauses 151 to 160 carry, on division.
It was agreed that clauses 161 to 170 carry, on division.
It was agreed that clauses 171 to 180 carry, on division.
It was agreed that clauses 181 to 190 carry, on division.
It was agreed that clauses 191 to 200 carry, on division.
It was agreed that clauses 201 to 206 carry, on division.
It was agreed that clause 1, which contains the short title, carry.
It was agreed that the title carry.
It was agreed that the bill carry, on division.
At 11:30 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Vincent Labrosse
Clerk of the Committee