Bill Detail
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (extortion)
This enactment amends the Criminal Code to:
amend mandatory minimum penalties in relation to the offence of extortion, including when the offence is committed for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with, a criminal organization; and
add arson as an aggravating factor for the purposes of sentencing when a person is convicted of extortion.
Bill C-381, also known as the Protection against Extortion Act, aimed to strengthen penalties for extortion. It proposed increasing mandatory minimum sentences for extortion, especially when a firearm was involved or when the crime was linked to a criminal organization. Additionally, it sought to add arson as an aggravating factor during sentencing for extortion convictions.
This bill was intended to address a perceived rise in extortion cases across Canada, with a particular concern for the vulnerability of new Canadians to overseas criminal groups. The proposed changes reflected Parliament's belief that the Criminal Code should adapt to new criminal behaviours and underscore the seriousness of such offences, especially those involving violence or property destruction.
Legislative Timeline
Votes
Yes / No Ratio
How each party voted
| Party | Position | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloc | Yes | 100% | 0% |
| Conservative | Yes | 100% | 0% |
| Green | No | 0% | 100% |
| Liberal | No | 0% | 100% |
| NDP | No | 0% | 100% |