C-290An Act to amend the Criminal Code (theft of property of cultural or religious significance)
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (theft of property of cultural or religious significance)
Private member's bill, introduced in the House of Commons on June 17, 2026
- Status
- At second reading in the House of Commons since June 17, 2026
What it does
Creates Criminal Code offences for stealing or possessing property of cultural or religious significance.
What it does
- Creates a separate Criminal Code offence for theft of property that has cultural or religious significance.
- Makes theft of such property punishable as an indictable offence with up to 10 years in prison, or as a summary conviction offence.
- Creates a separate offence for possessing cultural or religious property when it was stolen in the theft offence.
- Makes possession of such property punishable as an indictable offence with up to 5 years in prison, or as a summary conviction offence.
- Adds the new theft offence to the Criminal Code definition of “offence” in section 183.
Who it affects
- People who steal property
- People who possess stolen property
- Cultural communities
- Religious communities
- Police and courts
Background
The bill adds a new section 333.3 to the Criminal Code for theft and possession of property of cultural or religious significance.
Where it is
House of Commons
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Current stage. Now here
Committee
Not reached.
Report stage
Not reached.
Third reading
Not reached.
Senate
First reading
Not reached.
Second reading
Not reached.
Committee
Not reached.
Third reading
Not reached.
Royal assent
Royal assent
Not reached.
Introduced by an MP who is not a minister. These bills compete in a lottery for debate time, and most do not become law. How a bill becomes law
How the House voted
No recorded votes yet
What MPs said
Each party’s first speech on this bill in the House, from Hansard. Excerpts are the speaker’s opening sentences, unedited.
ConservativeGarnett Genuis· June 17, 2026
“Moved for leave to introduce Bill C‑290, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (theft of property of cultural or religious significance). Today I am tabling a new private member's bill, an act to amend the Criminal Code regarding theft of property of cultural or religious significance.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.ca
Read the source
LEGISinfo status: Outside the Order of Precedence. Bill data from LEGISinfo, votes from openparliament.ca and the House of Commons. Last updated October 13, 2026.