S-205An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to make consequential amendments to another Act (interim release and domestic violence recognizance orders)
Senate public bill, introduced in the Senate on November 24, 2021
- Status
- Became law on October 10, 2024 · S.C. 2024, c. 22
- Sponsor
- Pierre-Hugues BoisvenuSenator
- Senator
What it does
Creates a new court order for domestic violence fears and changes bail, conditions, and evidence rules in related Criminal Code cases.
What it does
- Tightens bail rules for people accused of violence against an intimate partner if they were previously convicted or discharged for violence against an intimate partner.
- Requires a justice who makes a release order to ask the prosecutor whether victims were told they can request a copy of the order.
- Creates a new recognizance order, a court order to keep the peace, when someone has reasonable grounds to fear domestic violence against an intimate partner or child.
- Lets judges add conditions to that order, including treatment programs, no contact rules, travel limits, no-go zones, electronic monitoring, substance bans, and firearm or weapon bans.
- Limits how bodily-substance samples and test results can be used, shared, and destroyed, and updates the related court forms.
- Makes youth courts handle these orders for young people and require judges to consider Indigenous support services in some cases.
Who it affects
- People accused of intimate partner violence
- People fearing domestic violence
- Intimate partners and children
- Youth in youth court
- Judges and prosecutors
- People subject to recognizance orders
Background
The bill adds a new Criminal Code recognizance for fear of domestic violence. It also changes related Criminal Code rules, youth justice rules, and standard court forms.
Where it is
Senate
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Completed.
Committee
Completed.
Report stage
Completed.
Third reading
Completed.
House of Commons
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Completed.
Committee
Completed.
Report stage
Completed.
Third reading
Completed.
Royal assent
Royal assent
Completed.
Introduced by a senator. If the Senate passes it, it goes to the House of Commons, where an MP must agree to sponsor it. How a bill becomes law
How the House voted
3rd reading and adoption of Bill S-205, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to make consequential amendments to another Act (interim release and domestic violence recognizance orders)
Vote 864,
Passed
321 yeato0 nay
Party breakdown for vote 864 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Yea 150 0 3 Conservative Yea 115 0 4 Bloc Yea 27 0 6 NDP Yea 24 0 1 Green Yea 2 0 0 Independent Yea 3 0 1 Total 321 0 Concurrence at report stage of Bill S-205, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to make consequential amendments to another Act (interim release and domestic violence recognizance orders)
Vote 863,
Passed
324 yeato0 nay
Party breakdown for vote 863 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Yea 150 0 3 Conservative Yea 116 0 3 Bloc Yea 29 0 4 NDP Yea 24 0 1 Green Yea 2 0 0 Independent Yea 3 0 1 Total 324 0 Bill S-205, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to make consequential amendments to another Act (interim release and domestic violence recognizance orders) (report stage amendment)
Vote 862,
Failed
123 yeato202 nay
Party breakdown for vote 862 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Nay2 broke ranks 2 149 2 Conservative Yea 117 0 2 Bloc Nay2 broke ranks 2 26 5 NDP Nay 0 24 1 Green Nay 0 2 0 Independent Yea1 broke ranks 2 1 1 Total 123 202 2nd reading of Bill S-205, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to make consequential amendments to another Act (interim release and domestic violence recognizance orders)
Vote 439,
Passed
323 yeato0 nay · 6 paired
Party breakdown for vote 439 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Yea 151 0 7 Conservative Yea 114 0 3 Bloc Yea 30 0 2 NDP Yea 24 0 1 Green Yea 2 0 0 Independent Yea 2 0 1 Total 323 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.
LiberalJames Maloney· September 21, 2023
“I am pleased to join the second reading debate today of Bill S-205, an act to amend the Criminal Code and to make consequential amendments to another act, interim release and domestic violence recognizance orders, which was passed in the Senate this past April. I think all members would agree that the objective of Bill S-205 is laudable.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caConservativeRaquel Dancho· September 21, 2023
“I am deeply honoured to be here today talking about Bill S-205, which ultimately is about electronic bracelets. It is an act to amend the Criminal Code and make consequential amendments to other acts regarding interim release and domestic violence recognisance orders.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caBlocRhéal Fortin· September 21, 2023
“I think these devices should be used sparingly in serious cases such as those set out in the bill. We will have to ensure that the provisions we adopt are written in a way that is consistent with our intention.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caNDPLisa Marie Barron· September 21, 2023
“I am happy to stand today and speak in support of Bill S-205. This bill, which would amend the Criminal Code with respect to interim release and other orders related to intimate partner offences, is a critical step towards addressing the pressing issue of intimate partner and gender-based violence in Canada.”
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.