C-41An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to make consequential amendments to other Acts
Government bill, introduced in the House of Commons on March 9, 2023
- Status
- Became law on June 20, 2023 · S.C. 2023, c. 14
What it does
Creates a ministerial authorization system for certain activities in terrorist-controlled areas and updates related Criminal Code rules.
What it does
- Replaces section 83.03 of the Criminal Code so it is an offence to provide property or services for terrorist purposes or for use by a terrorist group, unless an exception applies.
- Creates a process that lets the Public Safety Minister authorize eligible people in Canada or Canadians abroad to carry out listed activities in a terrorist-controlled area for health, education, livelihood, human rights, immigration, or some federal operations.
- Sets application rules that require referral by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, or both, and lets the Public Safety Minister ask for more information, assess security risks, and impose terms and conditions.
- Lets the Public Safety Minister renew, amend, suspend, revoke, or limit an authorization, and sets a maximum validity of five years.
- Requires notice of refusals, sets a 30-day waiting period before a new application for the same activity, and creates special Federal Court rules for judicial review and appeals.
- Allows named federal bodies to share information for administering and enforcing the new regime, requires annual and periodic reports, and makes related amendments to other Acts.
Who it affects
- People seeking authorizations
- Humanitarian organisations
- Aid and service providers
- Canadian citizens abroad
- Federal ministers
- Federal departments and agencies
- Security and intelligence bodies
- Federal courts
Background
The bill replaces section 83.03 of the Criminal Code and creates sections 83.031 to 83.0392. It also keeps an exception for humanitarian assistance by impartial humanitarian organisations acting under international law and using reasonable efforts to minimise benefits to terrorist groups.
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
Skipped. Skipped
Third reading
Completed.
Senate pre study
Defeated here. Defeated
Royal assent
Royal assent
Completed.
Introduced by a cabinet minister on behalf of the government. Government bills get set time for debate, so they are the most likely to become law. How a bill becomes law
How the House voted
3rd reading and adoption of Bill C-41, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to make consequential amendments to other Acts
Vote 371,
Passed
299 yeato25 nay · 4 paired
Party breakdown for vote 371 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Yea 152 0 4 Conservative Yea 112 0 3 Bloc Yea 30 0 2 NDP Nay 0 25 0 Green Yea 2 0 0 Independent Yea 3 0 0 Total 299 25
What MPs said
Each party’s first speech on this bill in the House, from Hansard. Excerpts are the speaker’s opening sentences, unedited.
LiberalPam Damoff· March 27, 2023
“It is truly an honour to begin debate today on Bill C-41. This legislation aims to address important aspects of the deepening crisis in Afghanistan and responds to Canadian humanitarian aid agencies and their pleas to be able to deliver relief to a country on the brink.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caConservativeGarnett Genuis· March 27, 2023
“On September 11, 2001, a terrorist organization that was using Afghanistan as its base of operations attacked New York and Washington. In response to this attack, Canada joined an American-like coalition that worked to overthrow Afghanistan's Taliban government and supported the transformation of Afghanistan into a free democracy.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caBlocAlexis Brunelle-Duceppe· March 27, 2023
“The motion was defeated by the Liberals, and now we find ourselves debating this bill in March. I put that question to the organizations themselves and to the various ministers who appeared before the committee.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caNDPHeather McPherson· March 27, 2023
“Today, we are talking about Bill C-41, which is a humanitarian carve-out. Let me correct that; it is supposed to be a humanitarian carve-out for humanitarian organizations.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.ca
Read the source
LEGISinfo status: Royal assent received. Bill data from LEGISinfo, votes from openparliament.ca and the House of Commons. Last updated October 13, 2026.