C-11Military Justice System Modernization Act
An Act to amend the National Defence Act and other Acts
Government bill, introduced in the House of Commons on September 26, 2025
- Status
- Became law on June 18, 2026 · S.C. 2026, c. 16
What it does
Changes the military justice system, including who investigates sexual offences, how key military justice roles are appointed, and how sex offender orders are handled.
What it does
- Changes how the Provost Marshal General, Director of Military Prosecutions, and Director of Defence Counsel Services are appointed and reviewed, with rules aimed at strengthening their independence.
- Removes court martial jurisdiction over Criminal Code offences of a sexual nature committed in Canada, and removes the Canadian Armed Forces’ authority to investigate those offences; ongoing cases are transferred to civilian authorities.
- Expands who can be appointed as a military judge and removes military judges from the summary hearing system.
- Requires a commanding officer to appoint a victim’s liaison officer, on request, to help a victim or someone acting for them in a service offence case.
- Expands who can make an interference complaint, and requires military police or other policing staff under the Provost Marshal General’s supervision to make a complaint in certain cases.
- Changes military sex offender information rules, including who gets orders, how long they last, how they can be varied or ended, and when court decisions can require the RCMP to remove database records.
Who it affects
- Canadian Armed Forces members
- Military police
- Military judges
- Military prosecutors
- Defence counsel services
- Victims of service offences
- People accused of sexual offences in Canada
- People subject to sex offender orders
Background
The bill says it 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.
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
Completed.
Report stage
Completed.
Third reading
Completed.
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-11, An Act to amend the National Defence Act and other Acts
Vote 123,
Passed
198 yeato140 nay · 2 paired
Party breakdown for vote 123 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Yea 172 0 2 Conservative Nay 0 139 1 Bloc Yea 21 0 1 NDP Yea 4 0 1 Green Yea 1 0 0 Independent Nay 0 1 0 Total 198 140 Bill C-11, An Act to amend the National Defence Act and other Acts (recommittal to a committee)
Vote 122,
Failed
160 yeato178 nay · 2 paired
Party breakdown for vote 122 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Nay 0 172 2 Conservative Yea 139 0 1 Bloc Yea 21 0 1 NDP Nay 0 4 1 Green Nay 0 1 0 Independent Nay 0 1 0 Total 160 178 Concurrence at report stage of Bill C-11, An Act to amend the National Defence Act and other Acts
Vote 117,
Passed
200 yeato136 nay · 4 paired
Party breakdown for vote 117 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Yea 171 0 3 Conservative Nay 0 136 4 Bloc Yea 22 0 0 NDP Yea 5 0 0 Green Yea 1 0 0 Independent Yea 1 0 0 Total 200 136 Bill C-11, An Act to amend the National Defence Act and other Acts (report stage amendment) (Motion No. 9)
Vote 116,
Failed
165 yeato171 nay · 4 paired
Party breakdown for vote 116 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Nay 0 171 3 Conservative Yea 136 0 4 Bloc Yea 22 0 0 NDP Yea 5 0 0 Green Yea 1 0 0 Independent Yea 1 0 0 Total 165 171 Bill C-11, An Act to amend the National Defence Act and other Acts (report stage amendment) (Motion No. 6)
Vote 115,
Passed
171 yeato165 nay · 4 paired
Party breakdown for vote 115 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Yea 171 0 3 Conservative Nay 0 136 4 Bloc Nay 0 22 0 NDP Nay 0 5 0 Green Nay 0 1 0 Independent Nay 0 1 0 Total 171 165 Bill C-11, An Act to amend the National Defence Act and other Acts (report stage amendment) (Motion No. 5)
Vote 114,
Passed
178 yeato158 nay · 4 paired
Party breakdown for vote 114 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Yea 171 0 3 Conservative Nay 0 136 4 Bloc Nay 0 22 0 NDP Yea 5 0 0 Green Yea 1 0 0 Independent Yea 1 0 0 Total 178 158 Bill C-11, An Act to amend the National Defence Act and other Acts (report stage amendment) (Motion No. 4)
Vote 113,
Failed
158 yeato178 nay · 4 paired
Party breakdown for vote 113 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Nay 0 171 3 Conservative Yea 136 0 4 Bloc Yea 22 0 0 NDP Nay 0 5 0 Green Nay 0 1 0 Independent Nay 0 1 0 Total 158 178 Bill C-11, An Act to amend the National Defence Act and other Acts (report stage amendment) (Motion No. 3)
Vote 112,
Passed
171 yeato165 nay · 4 paired
Party breakdown for vote 112 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Yea 171 0 3 Conservative Nay 0 136 4 Bloc Nay 0 22 0 NDP Nay 0 5 0 Green Nay 0 1 0 Independent Nay 0 1 0 Total 171 165 Bill C-11, An Act to amend the National Defence Act and other Acts (report stage amendment) (Motion No. 2)
Vote 111,
Failed
158 yeato178 nay · 4 paired
Party breakdown for vote 111 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Nay 0 171 3 Conservative Yea 136 0 4 Bloc Yea 22 0 0 NDP Nay 0 5 0 Green Nay 0 1 0 Independent Nay 0 1 0 Total 158 178 Bill C-11, An Act to amend the National Defence Act and other Acts (report stage amendment) (Motion No. 1)
Vote 110,
Failed
158 yeato178 nay · 4 paired
Party breakdown for vote 110 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Nay 0 171 3 Conservative Yea 136 0 4 Bloc Yea 22 0 0 NDP Nay 0 5 0 Green Nay 0 1 0 Independent Nay 0 1 0 Total 158 178 Time allocation for Bill C-11, An Act to amend the National Defence Act and other Acts
Vote 108,
Passed
169 yeato164 nay · 6 paired
Party breakdown for vote 108 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Yea 169 0 5 Conservative Nay 0 136 4 Bloc Nay 0 22 0 NDP Nay 0 4 1 Green Nay 0 1 0 Independent Nay 0 1 0 Total 169 164
What MPs said
Each party’s first speech on this bill in the House, from Hansard. Excerpts are the speaker’s opening sentences, unedited.
LiberalDavid McGuinty· October 6, 2025
“I am pleased to rise to open second reading debate on Bill C-11, the military justice system modernization act. As Canada's new government makes a generational investment in the Canadian Armed Forces, we know that any work to support our forces starts with our people.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caConservativeJames Bezan· October 6, 2025
“As the shadow minister for national defence, I am always honoured to stand in this place to talk about the great work of the brave women and men who serve in the Canadian Armed Forces and how we can do more to support them, which is what Bill C-11 is trying to do.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caBlocSimon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay· October 6, 2025
“As delicate as the subject may be, it remains our duty to take a serious look at the bill before us to put an end to this scourge and ensure greater accountability as well as a healthier environment. Let us not forget that the first allegations date back to 2015, under the Stephen Harper government.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caNDPLori Idlout· October 8, 2025
“Uqaqtittiji, I will start by sharing that the NDP supports Bill C-11. I dedicate this speech to the victims of abuse in the military, who deserve justice.”
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.