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Status and scope

• The supplied text identifies the measure as Bill C-11, the Military Justice System Modernization Act. Although the source is labelled “third reading,” the reproduced text also states that it received royal assent on June 18, 2026.
• It amends the military justice system in response to two independent review reports. It affects Canadian Armed Forces members, military police, military justice officials, victims and witnesses, and people subject to military sex-offender registration orders.
• The text has no numbered Parts. The headings below follow its main subject areas.

National Defence Act

Sexual offences and investigations

• Courts martial lose jurisdiction over specified sexual offences and other Criminal Code offences of a sexual nature or committed for a sexual purpose, when allegedly committed in Canada. Related attempts, conspiracies and certain other connected offences are also covered.
• Armed Forces officers and non-commissioned members generally lose authority to investigate those offences for the purpose of laying a military charge or a Criminal Code information.
• Before civilian authorities arrive, military personnel may still take necessary steps to prevent an offence, including arrest and a search incident to arrest, and may preserve evidence. They must transfer arrested people and evidence to the responsible civilian authority as soon as feasible. The provision does not prevent private prosecutions.

Leadership and independence

• The Canadian Forces Provost Marshal becomes the Provost Marshal General. The Governor in Council may appoint an officer with at least 10 years’ military police experience; the appointee serves at pleasure for up to four years.
• The Provost Marshal General is responsible to the Minister for specified responsibilities, including supervision of policing. The Minister may issue written general instructions, which must be made public. An annual report is due within three months after each fiscal year.
• The Governor in Council appoints the directors of military prosecutions and defence counsel services for non-renewable terms of up to seven years, during good behaviour. Vacancies in all three offices must be filled within 120 days; acting appointments beyond 90 days require Governor in Council approval.
• A superior court judge may conduct an inquiry into discipline or removal of either director. Inquiries are generally public, subject to specified confidentiality grounds. The judge may summon witnesses and documents and engage paid assistance.
• The Judge Advocate General’s superintendence is clarified to include respect for the independence of military justice authorities. The Minister may issue written instructions concerning a particular prosecution; publication can be delayed in specified circumstances.

Judges, complaints and victims

• Eligibility for military judge appointments and the reserve military judges panel is expanded to include eligible non-commissioned members. Military judges cannot be charged with service infractions or conduct summary hearings.
• Military police and others performing policing functions under the Provost Marshal General must complain when they reasonably believe specified policing duties were improperly interfered with. Affected victims, others affected and people acting for victims may also complain.
• A person acting for a victim may request a victim’s liaison officer. A commanding officer must appoint one unless operational reasons make it impossible, and must try to appoint the person requested.

Publication bans and registration

• New rules require military judges and prosecutors to inform protected victims, witnesses and other participants about applicable publication bans and their ability to seek changes. Protected people can disclose their own information in specified circumstances, and private disclosures for purposes other than informing the public are excluded.
• A protected person may seek to vary or revoke a ban. Generally this occurs without a hearing unless another protected person’s privacy interests may be affected. The accused cannot make submissions but must be notified of a change.
• Court-martial sex-offender registration rules are revised, including when orders are mandatory, their duration, and the grounds for termination. For certain older orders, people can seek an exemption or a change to a lifetime duration. An exemption requires removal of the relevant information from the registration database.

Other amendments and transition

• Criminal Code: Superior courts of criminal jurisdiction can hear eligible applications concerning military registration orders when the Chief Military Judge does not have jurisdiction. Related appeal and database-removal rules are amended.
• Other Acts: The bill repeals a provision of the Strengthening Military Justice in the Defence of Canada Act and makes consequential name changes in the Sex Offender Information Registration Act.
• Transition: The current Provost Marshal continues for the remainder of their term under the