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House Bill

Bill C-289

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
March 22, 2023
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (identity verification)
  • Bill C-289 is a proposed law that would change the Criminal Code to make it illegal for someone to purposely give false or misleading information when verifying the identity of a person or organization under the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act. This includes making false statements or omitting important information. If someone is found guilty of this offense, they could face fines up to $1,000,000, imprisonment for up to 10 years, or both, if tried as an indictable offense. Alternatively, if tried as a summary conviction, they could face fines up to $10,000, imprisonment for up to two years less a day, or both.
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SteelmanSpren in Favour

  • One potential steelman argument in favor of this bill could be the following: Ensuring accurate identity verification is crucial for combating money laundering and terrorist financing. This amendment to the Criminal Code addresses a significant loophole by making it an offense to knowingly provide false or misleading information during identity verification processes. By imposing substantial penalties, including fines up to $1,000,000 and imprisonment for up to 10 years, this legislation serves as a strong deterrent against individuals who may intentionally provide false information. Accurate identity verification is essential for financial institutions and authorities to effectively monitor and prevent illegal activities. Without this amendment, individuals could easily exploit the system by providing false or misleading information, making it difficult for authorities to trace criminal activities back to the perpetrators. By crimin

SteelmanSpren Against

  • One possible steelman argument against this bill is that it may unnecessarily increase the penalties for individuals who unintentionally provide false or misleading information in the process of identity verification. While it is important to deter and punish deliberate acts of fraud or deception, there may be instances where individuals make innocent mistakes or unintentionally provide incorrect information due to confusion or lack of knowledge. In such cases, it could be argued that imposing significant fines and imprisonment terms may be disproportionate and overly punitive. Instead, it could be more appropriate to focus on educating and raising awareness among individuals about the importance of accurate identity verification and the potential consequences of providing false information. This could help prevent unintentional errors and reduce the need for such severe penalties. Additionally, it could be argued that existing legal pr
House First Reading
  • March 9, 2023, 10 a.m.
  • In Progress
  • Read