C-321An Act to amend the Criminal Code (assaults against persons who provide health services and first responders)
Private member's bill, introduced in the House of Commons on March 9, 2023
- Status
- At third reading in the Senate since December 10, 2024
What it does
Requires courts to treat assaults on health service providers and first responders as aggravating factors at sentencing.
What it does
- Requires courts, when sentencing for certain assault offences, to consider it an aggravating circumstance if the victim was a person who provides health services, including personal care services, or a first responder doing their duty.
Who it affects
- Health service providers
- Personal care workers
- First responders
- People convicted of assault offences
Topics
Background
The bill adds a new section to the Criminal Code sentencing rules for certain assault offences.
Where it is
House of Commons
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Completed.
Committee
Completed.
Report stage
Completed.
Third reading
Completed.
Senate
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Completed.
Committee
Completed.
Third reading
Current stage. Now here
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
3rd reading and adoption of Bill C-321, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (assaults against persons who provide health services and first responders)
Vote 650,
Passed
318 yeato0 nay · 8 paired
Party breakdown for vote 650 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Yea 148 0 8 Conservative Yea 113 0 4 Bloc Yea 31 0 1 NDP Yea 22 0 3 Green Yea 2 0 0 Independent Yea 2 0 1 Total 318 0 Concurrence at report stage of Bill C-321, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (assaults against health care professionals and first responders)
Vote 623,
Passed
323 yeato0 nay · 2 paired
Party breakdown for vote 623 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Yea 152 0 5 Conservative Yea 112 0 5 Bloc Yea 29 0 3 NDP Yea 25 0 0 Green Yea 2 0 0 Independent Yea 3 0 0 Total 323 0 2nd reading of Bill C-321, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (assaults against health care professionals and first responders)
Vote 394,
Passed
320 yeato0 nay · 4 paired
Party breakdown for vote 394 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Yea 150 0 6 Conservative Yea 112 0 3 Bloc Yea 30 0 2 NDP Yea 23 0 2 Green Yea 2 0 0 Independent Yea 3 0 0 Total 320 0
What MPs said
Each party’s first speech on this bill in the House, from Hansard. Excerpts are the speaker’s opening sentences, unedited.
LiberalMajid Jowhari· May 2, 2023
“I am indeed honoured and very pleased to join the second reading debate on Bill C-321, an act to amend the Criminal Code as it relates to assaults against health care professionals and first responders. First, let me congratulate the member for Cariboo—Prince George, whom I have had the privilege of working with on a number of projects, especially in terms of mental health.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caConservativeTodd Doherty· March 9, 2023
“I am truly honoured and humbled to rise in the House to introduce this bill. I thank my hon. friend and colleague from Chilliwack—Hope for seconding the bill.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caBlocRhéal Fortin· May 2, 2023
“This bill is based on recommendation 3 from the Standing Committee on Health's report on violence facing health care workers in Canada, which was tabled in June 2019.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caNDPDon Davies· May 2, 2023
“I am pleased to rise today to express, on behalf of my New Democrat colleagues, our support for Bill C-321, an act to amend the Criminal Code, assaults against health care professionals and first responders.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.ca
Read the source
LEGISinfo status: At third reading in the Senate. Bill data from LEGISinfo, votes from openparliament.ca and the House of Commons. Last updated October 13, 2026.