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House Bill

Bill C-342

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
June 14, 2023
An Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (maximum security offenders)
  • This bill changes the Corrections and Conditional Release Act to require that dangerous offenders or those convicted of more than one first degree murder be classified as maximum security inmates and confined to a maximum security penitentiary. The bill is aimed at ensuring the secure confinement of offenders who pose a high risk to public safety and is consistent with the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights. Inmates who are eligible for this maximum security classification are not allowed unescorted temporary absences.
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  • RA
  • Yea
  • Nay
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SteelmanSpren in Favour

  • The purpose of Bill C-342 is to ensure the secure confinement of offenders who pose a high risk to the safety of the public, which is consistent with the spirit and intent of the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights. By requiring inmates who have been found to be dangerous offenders or convicted of more than one first degree murder to be assigned a security classification of maximum and confined in a maximum security penitentiary or area in a penitentiary, the bill aims to protect the public from further harm by these high-risk offenders. This measure is necessary to maintain public safety and address the concerns of victims and their families. It is an important step towards ensuring that dangerous offenders are kept separate from the general population and cannot harm anyone else while serving their sentence.

SteelmanSpren Against

  • One potential argument against this bill is that it may lead to further overcrowding of maximum security prisons and contribute to the already high rates of recidivism among inmates. By confining dangerous and high-risk offenders to maximum security facilities, they may be denied access to educational and rehabilitative programs and instead be forced to spend extended periods of time in harsh and restrictive prison environments, which have been shown to have negative impacts on mental health and behavior. Additionally, the bill may be seen as a violation of the principle of proportionality, as it does not take into account individual circumstances and risks, but rather imposes a blanket classification based on offense type. A comprehensive approach to addressing recidivism and public safety would require a focus on evidence-based interventions, such as restorative justice and community-based alternatives to incarceration, rather than si
House Second Reading
  • June 14, 2023, 2 p.m.
  • In Progress
  • Read
House First Reading
  • June 14, 2023, 2 p.m.
  • Passed