An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to make consequential amendments to the National Defence Act

Short title: Protecting Canadians by Ending Sentence Discounts for Multiple Murders Act Bill C-48 (40-3) Status: Royal assent received Type: House Government Bill Sponsor: Rob Nicholson, Minister of Justice (Niagara Falls) Latest stage: Royal assent Legislative

summary <div>A legislative

summary is currently being prepared for this bill by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament. Meanwhile, the following executive

summary is available. <br/><br/>On October 2010, the Minister of Justice introduced Bill C-48,

An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to make consequential amendments to the National Defence Act (Protecting Canadians by Ending Sentence Discounts for Multiple Murders Act), in the House of Commons and it was given first reading.<br/><br/>The new legislation would allow judges to impose consecutive parole ineligibility periods on individuals convicted of more than one first- or second-degree murder.

Under the current system, individuals convicted of multiple murders serve their parole ineligibility periods concurrently.<br/><br/>Consecutive parole ineligibility periods for multiple murderers would not be mandatory under the proposed legislation. Discretion would be given to judges to consider the character of the offender, the nature and circumstances of the offence, and any jury recommendation(

s) before deciding on whether to impose consecutive parole ineligibility periods.

Judges would, however, be required to state orally or in writing the basis for any decision not to impose consecutive parole ineligibility periods on multiple murderers.<br/><br/>The bill also makes consequential amendments to the National Defence Act.</div> House of Commons — First reading: Completed (2010-10-05) House of Commons — Second reading: Completed (2010-11-16) House of Commons — Consideration in committee: Completed (2010-12-10) House of Commons — Report stage: Completed (2011-02-01) House of Commons — Third reading: Completed (2011-02-01) Senate — First reading: Completed (2011-02-02) Senate — Second reading: Completed (2011-03-01) Senate — Consideration in committee: Completed (2011-03-03) Senate — Third reading: Completed (2011-03-08) LEGISinfo: https://www.parl.ca/legisinfo/en/bill/40-3/c-48