🍁 civid v1

Status and purpose

• Bill C-258 was at first reading on December 3, 2025.
• It would amend the Criminal Code to codify the trial-delay framework described in the bill’s summary as set out by the Supreme Court of Canada in R. v. Jordan, with an exception.

New Part XVI.1: Reasonable time for trial

• A judge would have to stay proceedings when the time from the laying of a charge to the actual or expected end of trial exceeds:
  • 30 months in superior court; or
  • 18 months in provincial court.
• A stay would not be required if the prosecutor establishes that the period is reasonable by demonstrating exceptional circumstances.
• Delay caused solely or directly by defence conduct, or waived by the defence, would not count toward the applicable ceiling.

Exception and Charter declaration

• The 30- and 18-month rules would not apply to a primary designated offence, as defined elsewhere in the Criminal Code. The provided text does not list those offences.
• The bill declares that this exception operates despite paragraph 11(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, using subsection 33(1) of the Charter.

Who is affected

• The proposed rules concern accused persons awaiting trial in superior or provincial court, as well as prosecutors and judges handling those proceedings.
• The provided text does not specify costs or an implementation date.