🍁 civid v1

Status

• Although the source labels the stage as second reading, the text itself says the Act received royal assent on June 17, 2026.

Criminal Code changes

• First-degree murder: Murder of an intimate partner becomes first-degree murder, whether or not it was planned and deliberate, if the person caused the death during or after a pattern of coercive or controlling conduct intended to make the partner believe their physical or psychological safety was threatened.
• Manslaughter: In the same circumstances, a sentencing court must consider life imprisonment. For an adult given a life sentence, parole ineligibility is at least 10 years; a judge may increase it to up to 25 years. The Act also provides parole rules for people who were under 18 when the offence occurred and appeal rights concerning parole-ineligibility periods.
• Intimate-partner violence: Creates an offence where an existing offence involves violence used, threatened or attempted against an intimate partner. For indictable prosecutions, maximum prison terms rise according to the maximum for the underlying offence: five, 10 or 14 years, or life. The underlying offence’s available prosecution modes still limit how the new offence can be prosecuted. If the new offence is not proved but the underlying offence is, the accused may be convicted of the latter.
• Bail and other rules: Changes a bail provision concerning an accused charged with intimate-partner violence who has a relevant previous conviction or discharge, or was subject to a specified recognizance. It also repeals Criminal Code subsection 718.3(8); the supplied text does not state what that subsection currently provides.
• Seized things: Extends the stated further-detention period from three months to 180 days, subject to the provision’s application and exceptions. This change is not limited to intimate-partner cases.

Transition and coordination

• The manslaughter sentencing provision does not apply to offences committed before the 30th day after royal assent. The revised detention period applies to matters or proceedings ongoing on that day.
• Coordinating amendments address overlaps with Bill C-16, the Protecting Victims Act, if it receives royal assent. Depending on which provisions come into force first, specified provisions of either Act may be repealed or adjusted.

Coming into force

• Provisions other than the coordinating amendments come into force on the 30th day after royal assent. The text identifies no costs.