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House Bill

Bill C-41

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
June 20, 2023
An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to make consequential amendments to other Acts
  • This law lets the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness authorize certain people to carry out activities, like providing health services or promoting human rights, in areas controlled by terrorist groups. Normally, these activities would be illegal under the Criminal Code. This law also makes some other changes to the Criminal Code.
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  • Yea (299)
  • Nay (25)
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SteelmanSpren in Favour

  • The creation of a regime under which an eligible person may carry out activities in a geographic area controlled by a terrorist group with authorization from the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, as outlined in Bill C-41, serves a crucial purpose in combating terrorism and supporting humanitarian efforts. By allowing individuals to provide or support health and education services, assist individuals in earning a livelihood, and promote human rights, among other activities, this legislation provides a framework for legitimate and necessary actions to take place in areas that might otherwise be off-limits due to the presence of terrorist groups. The authorization process, including security reviews and referral by relevant government ministers, ensures that those involved in such activities are vetted and accountable, while the limitation on grants or contributions by the government ensures that taxpayer money is not u

SteelmanSpren Against

  • While the intention of this legislation may be to allow for humanitarian assistance in areas controlled by terrorist groups, it sets a dangerous precedent by potentially legitimizing and normalizing engagement with violent extremist groups. The potential for unintended consequences, such as inadvertently providing support to terrorist groups or being used for recruitment purposes, cannot be ignored. Additionally, there may be other ways to provide humanitarian assistance in conflict zones without the need for engagement with designated terrorist groups. This legislation should be approached with caution and careful consideration of its long-term implications.
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Senate Third Reading
  • June 20, 2023, 2 p.m.
  • Passed
Royal Assent
  • June 20, 2023, 2 p.m.
  • Read
Senate First Reading
  • June 13, 2023, 2 p.m.
  • Passed
Senate Second Reading
  • June 13, 2023, 2 p.m.
  • Passed

House Committee

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
June 05, 2023
Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights (JUST)
Re. Bill C-41, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to make consequential amendments to other Acts
  • Report 11 presented to the House
  • In accordance with its Order of Reference of Monday, March 27, 2023, your committee has considered Bill C-41, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to make consequential amendments to other Acts, and agreed on Wednesday, May 31, 2023, to report it with the following amendments:
    Clause 1
    That Bill C-41, in Clause 1, be amended

    (a) by replacing line 8 on page 1 with the following:

    “10 years who, directly or indirectly, wilfully and without lawful justification or excuse, collects property or”

    (b) by replacing line 18 on page 1 with the following:

    “years who, directly or indirectly, wilfully and without lawful justification or excuse, collects property or pro‐”

    That Bill C-41, in Clause 1, be amended
    (a) by adding after line 26 on page 1 the following:
    “(4) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply to a person who carries out any of the acts referred to in those subsections for the sole purpose of carrying out humanitarian assistance activities conducted under the auspices of impartial humanitarian organizations in accordance with international law while using reasonable efforts to minimize any benefit to terrorist groups.”
    (b) by deleting lines 15 to 19 on page 2.
    That Bill C-41, in Clause 1, be amended
    (a) by adding after line 2 on page 3 the following:
    “(2.1) The Public Safety Minister must, at the request of an eligible person or an organization, provide to that person or organization information in writing about whether an authorization is required to carry out an activity or a class of activities in a given geographic area.”
    (b) by adding after line 25 on page 9 the following:
    “(a.1) respecting requests and the provision of information under subsection 83.032(2.1);”
    That Bill C-41, in Clause 1, be amended by replacing line 10 on page 6 with the following:
    “activity until the end of the 30th day after the day on”
    That Bill C-41, in Clause 1, be amended
    (a) by replacing line 30 on page 6 with the following:
    “specified by that Minister, but the request must relate only to the authorization or its renewal.”
    (b) by adding after line 9 on page 8 the following:
    “(2) Any information collected or disclosed under subsection (1) must only be used for the administration and enforcement of sections 83.031 to 83.0392.
    (3) The Public Safety Minister must take reasonable steps to ensure that any entity assisting that Minister under subsection (1) complies with subsection (2).”
    That Bill C-41, in Clause 1, be amended by adding after line 24 on page 8 the following:
    “(a.1) the judge may allow an amicus curiae who is appointed in respect of the proceeding to participate in a hearing under paragraph (a) and to review the evidence or other information that is the subject of the hearing;”
    That Bill C-41, in Clause 1, be amended
    (a) by replacing lines 38 and 39 on page 9 with the following:
    “and cause to be laid before each House of Parliament, within 90 days after the first day of January of every”
    (b) by adding after line 2 on page 10 the following:
    “(1.1) The report under subsection (1) must set out the number of applications for authorizations made, approved or refused in the previous calendar year.
    (1.2) If the report under subsection (1) contains any redactions, the Public Safety Minister must forward the unredacted report to the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians as well as the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency.”
    That Bill C-41, in Clause 1, be amended
    (a) by replacing line 5 on page 10 with the following:
    “Safety Minister no later than the first anniversary of the”
    (b) by replacing lines 8 and 9 on page 10 with the following:
    “House of Parliament within 180 days after that first anniversary and every five years thereafter.
    (3) If the report identifies any deficiencies in sections 83.031 to 83.0391 or their operation, the report must include a plan to remedy those deficiencies — including any proposed legislative amendments — and a timeline for its implementation.”
    Your committee has ordered a reprint of Bill C-41, as amended, as a working copy for the use of the House of Commons at the report stage.
    A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meetings Nos. 58, 59, 60, 61 and 68) is tabled.
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House Committee

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
May 17, 2023
Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights (JUST)
Re. Bill C-41, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to make consequential amendments to other Acts
  • Wed May 17, 2023 04:30 - 06:30PM
  • Transcript not yet availabe
  • Watch
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  • Hear!
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