C-230Protection of Freedom of Conscience Act
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (intimidation of health care professionals)
Private member's bill, introduced in the House of Commons on February 4, 2022
- Status
- Defeated at second reading in the House of Commons
What it does
Adds Criminal Code offences for intimidating health care professionals to take part in medical assistance in dying, or for hiring or firing them only for refusing.
What it does
- Creates a Criminal Code offence for using coercion or other intimidation to compel a medical practitioner, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, or other health care professional to take part, directly or indirectly, in medical assistance in dying.
- Makes it an offence to refuse to employ a medical practitioner, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, or other health care professional for the reason only that they refuse to take part, directly or indirectly, in medical assistance in dying.
- Makes it an offence to dismiss a medical practitioner, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, or other health care professional for the reason only that they refuse to take part, directly or indirectly, in medical assistance in dying.
Who it affects
- Medical practitioners
- Nurse practitioners
- Pharmacists
- Other health care professionals
- Employers
Background
The bill would add section 241.21 to the Criminal Code.
Where it is
House of Commons
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Defeated here. Defeated
Committee
Not reached.
Report stage
Not reached.
Third reading
Not reached.
Senate
First reading
Not reached.
Second reading
Not reached.
Committee
Not reached.
Third reading
Not reached.
Royal assent
Royal assent
Not reached.
Introduced by an MP who is not a minister. These bills compete in a lottery for debate time, and most do not become law. How a bill becomes law
How the House voted
2nd reading of Bill C-230, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (intimidation of health care professionals)
Vote 186,
Failed
115 yeato208 nay · 4 paired
Party breakdown for vote 186 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Nay 0 149 9 Conservative Yea 114 0 4 Bloc Nay 0 32 0 NDP Nay 0 24 1 Green Nay 0 2 0 Independent Split evenly 1 1 0 Total 115 208
What MPs said
Each party’s first speech on this bill in the House, from Hansard. Excerpts are the speaker’s opening sentences, unedited.
LiberalGary Anandasangaree· March 28, 2022
“I am very pleased to speak this morning with respect to Bill C-230, an act to amend the Criminal Code, intimidation of health care professionals, which was introduced by the member for Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek. I want to acknowledge that I am speaking today on the traditional unceded lands of the Algonquin people.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caConservativeKelly Block· March 28, 2022
“This bill revives my private member's bill, which died on the Order Paper, from the last Parliament, with some slight modifications. I would be remiss if I did not once again acknowledge that this bill is built on the hard work and determination of former members of Parliament.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caBlocLuc Thériault· March 28, 2022
“The bill we are debating today has to do with protecting the freedom of conscience of health care professionals and practitioners when it comes to medical assistance in dying. I think we should base our debate on the approach that Quebec took on this matter back in 2010.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caNDPRandall Garrison· March 28, 2022
“I am pleased though a bit surprised to be speaking on Bill C-230. Less than a year ago, on May 27, 2021, we were in the House debating Bill C-268, the very same bill from the very same member for Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.ca
Read the source
LEGISinfo status: Bill defeated. Bill data from LEGISinfo, votes from openparliament.ca and the House of Commons. Last updated October 13, 2026.