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Decentralized Democracy

Senate Bill

Bill S-231

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
April 09, 2024
Increasing the Identification of Criminals Through the Use of DNA Act
  • This bill aims to increase the use of DNA collection to identify criminals. It proposes amendments to the Criminal Code, Criminal Records Act, National Defence Act, and DNA Identification Act. The goal is to promote the DNA collection system and store more DNA profiles in the national DNA data bank. This will help law enforcement agencies in Canada identify individuals who have committed serious and violent crimes. The bill also recognizes the effectiveness of familial searching in solving crimes in other countries. The bill has passed its first reading in the Senate of Canada.
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SteelmanSpren in Favour

  • Steelman argument in favor of Bill S-231: Bill S-231, the Increasing the Identification of Criminals Through the Use of DNA Act, aims to promote the DNA collection system and increase the number of DNA profiles stored in the national DNA data bank. This legislation is crucial for several reasons. Firstly, the national DNA data bank plays a vital role in helping law enforcement agencies identify persons alleged to have committed designated offences. By increasing the number of DNA profiles in the data bank, the effectiveness of identifying perpetrators of serious and violent crimes will be enhanced. Secondly, Canada has a significantly lower number of DNA profiles in its national DNA data bank compared to other free and democratic countries on a per capita basis. This discrepancy limits the chances of finding matches between DNA profiles in the convicted offenders index and the crime scene index. By amending the Criminal Code, the

SteelmanSpren Against

  • A steelman argument opposing this bill could be as follows: Increasing the DNA collection system and storing more DNA profiles in the national DNA data bank raises significant concerns about privacy and civil liberties. As technology advances and DNA profiling becomes more prevalent, there is a potential for abuse and misuse of this sensitive personal information. Collecting and storing DNA profiles of individuals who have been convicted of certain crimes may seem reasonable at first, but it opens the door to expanding the scope of DNA collection to include individuals who have not been convicted or even charged with a crime. This could lead to a surveillance state where the government has access to a vast amount of personal genetic information. Furthermore, the effectiveness of DNA databases in solving crimes has been called into question. Studies have shown that the current reliance on DNA evidence in criminal investigations can le

Senate Committee

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
December 12, 2023
Legal and Constitutional Affairs (LCJC)
Re. Bill S-231, An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Criminal Records Act, the National Defence Act and the DNA …
  • Twenty-second Report

  • The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs has the honour to present its

    TWENTY-SECOND REPORT

    Your committee, to which was referred Bill S-231, An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Criminal Records Act, the National Defence Act and the DNA Identification Act, has, in obedience to the order of reference of November 3, 2022, examined the said bill and now reports the same with the following amendments:

    1.Delete clause 3, page 3.

    2.Delete clause 4, pages 3 and 4.

    3.Delete clause 16, page 6.

    4.Delete clause 18, pages 7 and 8.

    5.Clause 20, page 8: Replace lines 39 to 41 with the following:

    “(b) the person has no other findings of guilt or discharges for a designated offence or”.

    6.Clause 24, page 9: Replace line 19 with the following:

    “Act, with specific analysis of the inculpatory and exculpatory effects that DNA sampling have had on Indigenous, Black and racialized populations.”.

    Respectfully submitted,

    BRENT COTTER

    Chair

  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
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Senate Committee

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
December 07, 2023
Legal and Constitutional Affairs (LCJC)
Re. Bill S-231, Increasing the Identification of Criminals Through the Use of DNA Act
  • Thu Dec 07, 2023 11:45 - 13:45 EST
  • Read
  • Watch
  • Hear!
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Senate Committee

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
November 29, 2023
Legal and Constitutional Affairs (LCJC)
Re. Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Proposal (MSLA)
  • Wed Nov 29, 2023 16:15 - 18:15 EST
  • Read
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  • Hear!
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Senate Committee

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
November 23, 2023
Legal and Constitutional Affairs (LCJC)
Re. Bill S-231, Increasing the Identification of Criminals Through the Use of DNA Act
  • Thu Nov 23, 2023 11:45 - 13:45 EST
  • Read
  • Watch
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
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Senate Committee

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
November 09, 2023
Legal and Constitutional Affairs (LCJC)
Re. Bill S-231, An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Criminal Records Act, the National Defence Act and the DNA …
  • Thu Nov 09, 2023 11:45 - 13:45 EST
  • Read
  • Watch
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
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Senate Second Reading
  • Nov. 3, 2022, 2 p.m.
  • In Progress
  • Read
Senate First Reading
  • Dec. 2, 2021, midnight
  • Passed