C-66Military Justice System Modernization Act
An Act to amend the National Defence Act and other Acts
Government bill, introduced in the House of Commons on March 21, 2024
- Status
- Defeated at second reading in the House of Commons
What it does
Changes military justice rules, limits military handling of sexual offences committed in Canada, and updates appointments, judges and victim supports.
What it does
- Modifies how the Canadian Forces Provost Marshal, Director of Military Prosecutions and Director of Defence Counsel Services are appointed, to help strengthen their independence.
- Confirms the Judge Advocate General must respect the independence of military justice authorities when overseeing military justice administration.
- Removes courts martial jurisdiction over Criminal Code offences alleged to have been committed in Canada that are sexual in nature or committed for a sexual purpose.
- Removes the Canadian Armed Forces’ authority to investigate Criminal Code offences alleged to have been committed in Canada that are sexual in nature or committed for a sexual purpose.
- Expands who can be appointed as a military judge, and removes military judges from the summary hearing system.
- Expands who may make an interference complaint, changes the title of Canadian Forces Provost Marshal to Provost Marshal General, and lets a victim’s representative ask for a victim’s liaison officer in service offence cases.
Who it affects
- Canadian Armed Forces members
- Victims of service offences
- Military judges
- Military police
- Military justice authorities
- People accused of sexual offences in Canada
- Superior courts
Background
The bill responds to the Report of the Third Independent Review Authority to the Minister of National Defence and the Report of the Independent External Comprehensive Review of the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces. It also harmonizes some rules with recent Criminal Code changes on sex offender information and publication bans.
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 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
No recorded votes yet
What MPs said
Each party’s first speech on this bill in the House, from Hansard. Excerpts are the speaker’s opening sentences, unedited.
LiberalBill Blair· September 18, 2024
“As indicated, I have the privilege today to begin debate on the second reading of Bill C-66, the military justice system modernization act.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caConservativeJames Bezan· September 18, 2024
“As I said earlier, Conservatives support Bill C-66. We want to get it to committee.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caBlocChristine Normandin· September 18, 2024
“I too will put an end to the suspense by announcing that the Bloc Québécois intends to vote in favour of the principle of the bill at second reading so that it can be sent to committee. However, I will reiterate some of the comments I made about the timeline that led to the passage of the bill and the relevance of debating it now.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caNDPLindsay Mathyssen· September 19, 2024
“I want to begin by recognizing the women and men who are watching this debate on the bill today. There are generations of survivors of military sexual trauma who will be closely following the debate on the legislation.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.ca
Read the source
LEGISinfo status: At second reading in the House of Commons. Bill data from LEGISinfo, votes from openparliament.ca and the House of Commons. Last updated October 13, 2026.