C-14Bail and Sentencing Reform Act
An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Youth Criminal Justice Act and the National Defence Act (bail and sentencing)
Government bill, introduced in the House of Commons on October 23, 2025
- Status
- Became law on June 15, 2026 · S.C. 2026, c. 11
What it does
Changes bail, sentencing, youth justice and military justice rules in the Criminal Code, the Youth Criminal Justice Act and the National Defence Act.
What it does
- Changes bail rules by telling justices to consider random, unprovoked violence, outstanding charges and some repeat offences, and by expanding cases where the accused must show why they should be released.
- Requires release conditions that ban firearms or other weapons for extortion and criminal organization cases, and asks justices to consider extra conditions for motor vehicle theft and breaking and entering a dwelling-house.
- Adds new sentencing rules, including aggravating factors and consecutive sentences for repeat violent offences, motor vehicle theft, breaking and entering, extortion, arson, and offences against first responders and retail theft.
- Restricts conditional sentence orders for sexual assault and some sexual offences involving victims under 18, restores driving prohibitions for manslaughter and criminal negligence causing bodily harm or death, and raises the penalty for contempt.
- Updates youth justice rules by refining the definition of a violent offence, stopping unlawful-at-large time from counting toward custody and supervision, allowing urgent publication of a young person’s identity when public safety is at risk, and changing record access rules.
- Changes military justice sentencing by raising the contempt penalty, giving denunciation and deterrence primary weight for offences involving criminal organizations, and adding aggravating factors for repeat violence and some property offences.
Who it affects
- Accused people
- People charged with violent offences
- People charged with theft or extortion
- Youth in the justice system
- Police officers
- Justices and judges
- Courts martial
- Victims and complainants
Topics
Background
Amends the Criminal Code, the Youth Criminal Justice Act and the National Defence Act. It deals with bail, sentencing, records and military justice.
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
Time allocation for Bill C-14, An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Youth Criminal Justice Act and the National Defence Act (bail and sentencing)
Vote 155,
Passed
166 yeato158 nay · 10 paired
Party breakdown for vote 155 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Yea 166 0 8 Conservative Nay 0 133 7 Bloc Nay 0 18 4 NDP Nay 0 5 0 Green Nay 0 1 0 Independent Nay 0 1 0 Total 166 158
What MPs said
Each party’s first speech on this bill in the House, from Hansard. Excerpts are the speaker’s opening sentences, unedited.
LiberalSean Fraser· October 29, 2025
“What I have some faith in is that the lessons we have learned that have been embedded in the bill were not developed behind closed doors on Parliament Hill. They have benefited from extraordinary collaboration with provincial governments in different parts of the country and of different partisan persuasions.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caConservativeLarry Brock· October 29, 2025
“When I look at Bill C-14, I see more reverse onus provisions, much like those in Bill C-48. 0, because it is not.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caBlocRhéal Fortin· October 29, 2025
“The bill keeps the same criteria, but adds a few more.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caNDPLori Idlout· October 30, 2025
“Uqaqtittiji, I am honoured to speak to Bill C-14 as the NDP justice critic, and I acknowledge that there is huge public concern about the bail system and that Canadians want to feel safe. The New Democrats, having read through this bill, have concerns.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caGreenElizabeth May· November 18, 2025
“Now, Bill C-14 attempts to balance things and attempts to recognize that the Charter of Rights and Freedoms is fundamental, but there are some other principles here that are being, I fear, so politicized that we are losing track of a basic reality. Bail is granted to people who have not been convicted of anything.”
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.