S-272An Act to amend the Director of Public Prosecutions Act
Senate public bill, introduced in the Senate on June 22, 2023
- Status
- Defeated at second reading in the Senate
- Sponsor
- Mary Jane McCallumSenator
- Senator
What it does
Requires the Director of Public Prosecutions to handle summary conviction prosecutions under First Nation laws, unless the First Nation makes other arrangements.
What it does
- Defines “First Nation” and “First Nation law” for the Act, including bands under the Indian Act, First Nations under the Framework Agreement on First Nation Land Management Act, and some self-government agreement First Nations.
- Updates the definition of “prosecution” to fit the new First Nation law rules.
- Requires the Director of Public Prosecutions to start and conduct prosecutions of summary conviction offences under First Nation laws, and related appeals or other proceedings, for the First Nation that made the law.
- Creates an exception where the Director does not act if the First Nation has appointed or retained its own prosecutor or has an agreement with a provincial or territorial government for those prosecutions.
Who it affects
- First Nations
- First Nation governments
- Director of Public Prosecutions
- Provincial governments
- Territorial governments
- Prosecutors
- People charged under First Nation laws
Background
The bill amends the Director of Public Prosecutions Act. It adds definitions for “First Nation” and “First Nation law” to that Act.
Where it is
Senate
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Defeated here. Defeated
Committee
Not reached.
Third reading
Not reached.
House of Commons
First reading
Not reached.
Second reading
Not reached.
Committee
Not reached.
Report stage
Not reached.
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
No recorded votes yet
Read the source
LEGISinfo status: At second reading in the Senate. Bill data from LEGISinfo, votes from openparliament.ca and the House of Commons. Last updated October 13, 2026.