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 February 2021, the Minister of Justice introduced Bill C-23,

An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Identification of Criminals Act and to make related amendments to other Acts (COVID-19 response and other measures), in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. <br/><br/>Bill C-23 amends the Criminal Code to, among other things,<br/>(

a) allow for the use of electronic or other automated means for the purposes of the jury selection process;<br/>(

b) expand, for the accused and offenders, the availability of remote appearances by audioconference and videoconference in certain circumstances;<br/>(

c) provide for the participation of prospective jurors in the jury selection process by videoconference in certain circumstances;<br/>(

d) expand the power of courts to make case management rules permitting court personnel to deal with administrative matters for accused not represented by counsel;<br/>(

e) permit courts to order fingerprinting at the interim release stage and at any other stage of the criminal justice process if fingerprints could not previously have been taken for exceptional reasons; and<br/>(

f) replace the existing telewarrant provisions with a process that permits a wide variety of search warrants, authorizations and orders to be applied for and issued by a means of telecommunication.<br/><br/>The enactment makes amendments to the Criminal Code and the Identification of Criminals Act to correct minor technical errors and includes transitional provisions on the application of the amendments. It also makes related amendments to other Acts.</div> House of Commons — First reading: Completed (2021-02-24) House of Commons — Second reading: No activity LEGISinfo: https://www.parl.ca/legisinfo/en/bill/43-2/c-23