S-224An Act to amend the Criminal Code (trafficking in persons)
Senate public bill, introduced in the Senate on November 24, 2021
- Status
- Defeated at report stage in the House of Commons
- Sponsor
- Salma AtaullahjanSenator
- Senator
What it does
Clarifies when someone is exploiting another person for Criminal Code trafficking in persons offences and repeals one related subsection.
What it does
- Replaces the Criminal Code definition of exploitation for trafficking offences, saying it applies when someone causes another person to provide or offer labour or a service through force, coercion, fraud, deception, abuse of trust, power or authority, or a similar act.
- Repeals subsection 279.04(2) of the Criminal Code.
Who it affects
- People accused of trafficking in persons
- People who are exploited for labour or services
- Victims of trafficking
- Law enforcement
- Courts
Background
The bill changes the definition of exploitation used for trafficking in persons offences in sections 279.01 to 279.03 of the Criminal Code.
Where it is
Senate
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Completed.
Committee
Completed.
Third reading
Completed.
House of Commons
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Completed.
Committee
Completed.
Report stage
Defeated here. Defeated
Third reading
Not reached.
Royal assent
Royal assent
Not reached.
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
Bill S-224, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (trafficking in persons) (report stage amendment)
Vote 853,
Failed
118 yeato207 nay · 2 paired
Party breakdown for vote 853 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Nay 0 149 6 Conservative Yea 117 0 1 Bloc Nay 0 31 1 NDP Nay 0 23 1 Green Nay 0 2 0 Independent Nay1 broke ranks 1 2 0 Total 118 207 2nd reading of Bill S-224, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (trafficking in persons)
Vote 271,
Passed
322 yeato0 nay · 4 paired
Party breakdown for vote 271 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Yea 152 0 5 Conservative Yea 113 0 2 Bloc Yea 29 0 3 NDP Yea 24 0 1 Green Yea 2 0 0 Independent Yea 2 0 0 Total 322 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.
LiberalKevin Lamoureux· December 2, 2022
“As I pointed out in the question I asked the member, it is an issue that I believe is about governments at different levels. Even when I speak of these different levels, I know this is also a worldwide problem.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caConservativeColin Carrie· December 2, 2022
“This bill is indeed a great way to end the week. Today I rise to speak to Bill S-224, a non-partisan bill that passed unanimously in the Senate on October 6.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caBlocChristine Normandin· December 2, 2022
“This bill eliminates the additional constraint that was imposed on victims to prove that the offence of human trafficking was committed. It removes the burden that was needlessly placed on the wrong person by focusing on what was done rather than considering how it is perceived by the victim.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caNDPLeah Gazan· December 2, 2022
“As I rise to speak to Bill S-224, an act to amend the Criminal Code, trafficking in persons, Winnipeg has once again received horrific news of the murder of indigenous women in our community: They are Morgan Harris, 39; Marcedes Myran, 26; Rebecca Contois, 24; and one woman yet to be identified.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.ca
Read the source
LEGISinfo status: Bill not proceeded with. Bill data from LEGISinfo, votes from openparliament.ca and the House of Commons. Last updated October 13, 2026.