C-334An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Judges Act and the Director of Public Prosecutions Act (orders prohibiting publication of identifying information)
Private member's bill, introduced in the House of Commons on May 31, 2023
- Status
- At second reading in the House of Commons since May 31, 2023
What it does
Changes when courts can order publication bans to protect victims’ identities, adds a process to change or cancel them, and requires training for judges and federal prosecutors.
What it does
- Requires judges or justices to ask whether prosecutors took reasonable steps to consult the victim before applying for a publication ban.
- Bars a publication ban for an adult victim who was consulted, unless that victim consents.
- Requires prosecutors to notify protected victims and witnesses of the order and explain how to ask for it to be revoked or varied.
- Creates a process for a court to revoke or vary a publication ban, including on an adult victim’s application, with notice to affected victims and witnesses.
- Allows a court, after a guilty finding and before sentencing, to ask whether the victim was told they could request a change to the order through their victim impact statement.
- Requires training for federally appointed judges and continuing education for federal prosecutors on sexual assault proceedings, consent, publication bans, and their impact on victims.
Who it affects
- Victims of sexual offences
- Witnesses whose identity is protected
- Adult victims
- Federally appointed judges
- Federal prosecutors
Background
The Criminal Code already lets courts order that identifying information about a victim or witness not be published in certain proceedings. This bill changes how those orders are made, changed, and explained to victims.
Where it is
House of Commons
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Current stage. Now here
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
No recorded votes yet
Read the source
LEGISinfo status: Outside the Order of Precedence. Bill data from LEGISinfo, votes from openparliament.ca and the House of Commons. Last updated October 13, 2026.