Public Safety, Policing, & the Justice System

Criminal sentencing platforms

Here's what the 2025 Canadian election parties are promising.

Liberal

  • Set stricter sentencing guidelines for repeat car theft, and violent and organised crime, including allowing consecutive sentencing

    "Toughening sentencing guidelines so they are stricter for repeat offenders of car theft, as well as violent and organized crime by:

    » Directing courts to primarily consider denunciation and deterrence when sentencing repeat car thieves or home invasion offenders;

    » Allowing for consecutive sentencing for car theft with violence or car theft involving a criminal organization on top of home invasion offences if applicable, or any other offences the person is subject to; and,

    » Allowing for consecutive sentencing for serious and violent offences." — liberal.ca, retrieved 2025-04-16

  • Raise the maximum sentence for child-luring

Conservative

  • Set mandatory life sentences for anyone convicted of fentanyl trafficking, 5 counts of human trafficking, or importing 10 illegal firearms

    "Specifically, Poilievre said he will impose life sentences for anyone who is convicted of:

    1. 5 or more counts of human trafficking.
    2. Importing or exporting ten or more illegal firearms.
    3. Fentanyl trafficking."

    conservative.ca, retrieved 2025-04-17

  • Prevent people convicted of three serious offences from getting bail, probation, parole, or house arrest

    "This law will stop criminals convicted of three serious offences from getting bail, probation, parole or house arrest, and keep violent criminals behind bars longer to keep them away from their victims and off our streets." — conservative.ca, retrieved 2025-04-17

  • Set a minimum prison term of 10 years for people convicted of three serious offences

    "Poilievre will make sure that three-time serious criminals get a minimum prison term of 10 years and up to a life sentence. They will also be designated as Dangerous Offenders, meaning they cannot be released until they prove they are no longer a danger. The only way for these repeat serious criminals to obtain their freedom will be through spotless behaviour and clean drug tests during a lengthy minimum prison sentence, with earned release dependent on improving themselves and their life opportunities, such as by learning a trade or upgrading their education." — conservative.ca, retrieved 2025-04-17

  • Repeal Bill C-75, which updated bail rules, changed how juries are selected, restored some judicial discretion in sentencing, and removed unconstitutional provisions from law, among other things

    "We will repeal Bill C-75, the Liberals’ catch-and-release law, to restore jail, not bail for repeat, violent offenders." — conservative.ca, retrieved 2025-04-17

    The changes that were made by Bill C-75, and that would be repealed by the bill's repeal, are detailed in the following from the government's website:

    "The Act:

    1. modernizes and clarifies bail provisions;
    2. provides an enhanced approach to administration of justice offences, including for youth;
    3. abolishes peremptory challenges of jurors and modifies the process of challenging a juror for cause and of judicial stand-by;
    4. restricts the availability of preliminary inquiries;
    5. streamlines the classification of offences;
    6. expands judicial case management powers;
    7. enhances measures to better respond to intimate partner violence;
    8. provides additional measures to reduce criminal justice system delays and to make the criminal law and the criminal justice system clearer and more efficient;
    9. restores judicial discretion in imposing victim surcharges;
    10. facilitates human trafficking prosecutions, and allows for the possibility of property forfeiture;
    11. removes provisions that have been ruled unconstitutional by the SCC; and
    12. makes consequential amendments to other Acts."

    justice.gc.ca, retrieved 2025-04-18

  • Restore mandatory minimum sentences for some drug trafficking and production offences, and some weapon possession, trafficking, and use offences

    "We will also repeal Liberal Bill C-5 that ended mandatory jail time for serious gun and drug crimes [...]" — conservative.ca, retrieved 2025-04-17

    The mandatory minimum sentences that were originally repealed by Bill C-5 and would be returned by a repeal of Bill C-5 are detailed in the following from the government's website:

    "Criminal Code

    The reforms to MMPs would only apply to certain offences, and would not limit the ability of a judge to impose a sentence of imprisonment, particularly where doing so is necessary to protect the safety of the public.

    To address the overincarceration rate of Indigenous peoples, as well as Black and marginalized Canadians, MMPs for the following offences would be repealed:

    1. Using a firearm or imitation firearm in commission of offence (two separate offences)
    2. Paragraphs 85(3)(a) and (b): MMPs of 1 year (first offence) and 3 years (second and subsequent offence)
    3. Possession of firearm or weapon knowing its possession is unauthorized (two separate offences)
    4. Paragraphs 92(3)(b) and (c): MMP of 1 year (second offence) and 2 years less a day (third and subsequent offence)
    5. Possession of prohibited or restricted firearm with ammunition
    6. Paragraphs 95(2)(i) and (ii): MMPs of 3 years (first offence) and 5 years (second and subsequent offence)
    7. Possession of weapon obtained by commission of offence
    8. Paragraph 96(2)(a): MMP of 1 year
    9. Weapons trafficking (excluding firearms and ammunition)
    10. Subsection 99(3): MMP of 1 year
    11. Possession for purpose of weapons trafficking (excluding firearms and ammunition)
    12. Subsection 100(3): MMP of 1 year
    13. Importing or exporting knowing it is unauthorized
    14. Subsection 103(2.1): MMP of 1 year
    15. Discharging firearm with intent
    16. Paragraph 244(2)(b): MMP of 4 years
    17. Discharging firearm — recklessness
    18. Paragraph 244.2(3)(b): MMP of 4 years
    19. Robbery with a firearm
    20. Paragraph 344(1)(a.1): MMP of 4 years
    21. Extortion with a firearm
    22. Paragraph 346(1.1)(a.1): MMP of 4 years
    23. Selling, etc., of tobacco products and raw leaf tobacco
    24. Subparagraphs 121.1 (4)(a)(i),(ii) and (iii): MMPs of 90 days (second offence), MMP of 180 days (third offence) and MMP of 2 years less a day (fourth and subsequent offence)

    NOTE: Consistent with the Government’s related commitment to address the trafficking and smuggling of firearms in Canada and gang-related violence, MMPs would be maintained in the Criminal Code for the following offences:

    1. Weapons trafficking
    2. Subsection 99(2): MMP of 3 years (first offence) or 5 years (subsequent offences)
    3. Possession for the purpose of weapons trafficking
    4. Subsection 100(2): MMP of 3 years (first offence) or 5 years (subsequent offences)
    5. Making automatic firearm
    6. Subsection 102(2): MMP of 1 year
    7. Importing or exporting knowing it is unauthorized
    8. Subsection 103(2): MMP of 3 years (first offence) or 5 years (subsequent offences)
    9. Causing death by criminal negligence, use of firearm
    10. Subsection 220(a): MMP of 4 years
    11. Manslaughter, use of a firearm
    12. Subsection 236(a): MMP of 4 years
    13. Attempted murder, use of a firearm
    14. Paragraph 239(1)(a): MMP of 5 years (first offence) and 7 years (subsequent offences) - where firearm is restricted or prohibited or if any firearm is used and the offence is committed in connection with a criminal organization
    15. Paragraph 239(1)(a.1): MMP of 4 years in any other case (involving non-restricted firearms)
    16. Discharging firearm with intent
    17. Paragraph 244(2)(a): MMP of 5 years (first offence) and 7 year (subsequent offences) where firearm is restricted or prohibited or where the offence is committed in connection with a criminal organization
    18. Discharging firearm—recklessness
    19. Paragraph 244.2(3)(a): MMP of 5 years (first offence) and 7 year (subsequent offences) where firearm is restricted or prohibited or where the offence is committed in connection with a criminal organization
    20. Sexual assault, use of firearm
    21. Paragraph 272(2)(a): MMP of 5 years (first offence) and 7 years (subsequent offences) - where firearm is restricted or prohibited or if any firearm is used and the offence is committed in connection with a criminal organization
    22. Paragraph 272(2)(a.1): MMP of 4 years in any other case (involving non-restricted firearms)
    23. Aggravated sexual assault, use of a firearm
    24. Paragraph 273(2)(a): MMP of 5 years (first offence) and 7 years (subsequent offences) - where firearm is restricted or prohibited or if any firearm is used and the offence is committed in connection with a criminal organization
    25. Paragraph 273(2)(a.1): MMP of 4 years in any other case (involving non-restricted firearms)
    26. Kidnapping, use of a firearm
    27. Paragraph 279(1.1)(a): MMP of 5 years (first offence) and 7 years (subsequent offences) - where firearm is restricted or prohibited or if any firearm is used and the offence is committed in connection with a criminal organization
    28. Paragraph 279(1.1)(a.1): MMP of 4 years in any other case (involving non-restricted firearms)
    29. Hostage taking, use of a firearm
    30. Paragraph 279.1(2)(a): MMP of 5 years (first offence) and 7 years (subsequent offences) - where firearm is restricted or prohibited or if any firearm is used and the offence is committed in connection with a criminal organization
    31. Paragraph 279.1(2)(a.1): MMP of 4 years in any other case (involving non-restricted firearms)
    32. Robbery with firearm
    33. Paragraph 344(1)(a): MMP of 5 years (first offence) and 7 years (subsequent offences) - where firearm is restricted or prohibited or if any firearm is used and the offence is committed in connection with a criminal organization
    34. Extortion with a firearm
    35. Paragraph 346(1.1)(a): MMP of 5 years (first offence) and 7 years (subsequent offences) - where firearm is restricted or prohibited or if any firearm is used and the offence is committed in connection with a criminal organization

    Controlled Drugs and Substances Act

    To address the overincarceration rate of Indigenous peoples as well as Black Canadians and members of marginalized communities, MMPs would be repealed for all the offences in the CDSA:

    1. Trafficking or possession for the purpose of trafficking (two separate offences)
    2. Subparagraph 5(3)(a)(i): MMP of 1 year; Subparagraph 5(3)(a)(ii) – MMP of 2 years
    3. Importing and exporting or possession for the purpose of exporting (two separate offences)
    4. Paragraph 6(3)(a): MMP of 1 year; Paragraph 6(3)(a.1) – MMP of 2 years
    5. Production of substance Schedule I or II (two offence)
    6. Paragraph 7(2)(a): MMP of 3 years and 2 years; Subparagraph 7(2)(a.1)(i) and (ii) – MMPs of 1 year and 18 months"

    justice.gc.ca, retrieved 2025-04-18

  • Impose significant new mandatory minimum sentences on several crimes
    1. "Life for five or more counts of human trafficking, importing or exporting ten or more illegal firearms, or trafficking, producing or exporting over 40mg of fentanyl.
    2. 15 years for traffickers caught with between 20mg to 40mg.
    3. Five years for gang-affiliated extortion, four years for extortion with a firearm, and three years for all other extortion convictions.
    4. Six months to three years for a third offence of motor vehicle theft."

    conservative.ca, retrieved 2025-04-17

  • Create new aggravating factors for auto theft committed for organised crime and arson tied to extortion
  • Remove house arrest as a sentence for indictable motor vehicle theft convictions

Bloc

  • Déposer un projet de loi afin de remettre en place des peines minimales pour les crimes graves

    Le Bloc Québécois déposera un projet de loi afin de remettre en place des peines minimales pour les crimes graves, tout en permettant des exceptions à la discrétion des juges avec justification.

We don't have any NDP policies on Criminal sentencing.
We don't have any Green policies on Criminal sentencing.

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