Minister MacKay Presents Highlights of Federal Government Action on Criminal Justice Issues at Federation of Law Societies of Canada's National Criminal Law Program

HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA--(Marketwired - July 7, 2014) - Justice Canada

Today, Minister of Justice Peter MacKay spoke at the Federation of Law Societies of Canada's National Criminal Law Program in Halifax where he highlighted the federal government's actions and priorities on criminal justice issues.

Quick Facts

• The federal government has taken action over the past year in order to address various areas of importance in a modern criminal justice system. Those actions include:
  • Passing the Not Criminally Responsible Reform Act, which ensures that public safety comes first in the decision-making process with respect to accused persons found Not Criminally Responsible on Account of Mental Disorder (NCR);
  • Introducing the Victims Bill of Rights Act, which would ensure that victims of crime are heard by entrenching clear rights to information, protection, participation and restitution at the federal level;
  • Introducing the Protecting Canadians from Online Crime Act, which would create a new Criminal Code offence prohibiting the distribution of intimate images of a person without that person's consent. It would also modernize existing investigative powers
    In addition to the proposed legislative reform, action has also been taken to treat the issue of cyberbullying holistically through prevention, education and raising awareness;
  • Introducing the Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act, which proposes criminal law reform that would criminalize the purchase of sexual services for the first time in Canadian criminal law. Also, tough penalties would be imposed on those who exploit others through prostitution. The proposed legislation would address the significant harms that flow from prostitution to those engaged in it and to other vulnerable persons, while protecting Canadian communities; and
  • Introducing the Tougher Penalties for Child Predators Act, which proposes new key measures to combat child sexual exploitation and protect Canadians from online crime.

Quotes

"Canadians need to feel that the criminal justice system is working for them. This is especially important to victims of crime - who want their voices heard. Canadians also need to feel that their families and communities are safe and that the consequences of breaking the law are in line with the crime that has been committed. Our Government is working with all our partners, including the legal and law enforcement communities to ensure that we all collaborate and contribute to making our streets are safer for the benefit of all Canadians."

Peter MacKay

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Related Products

Backgrounders: Not Criminally Responsible Reform Act

Overview of Canadian Victims Bill of Rights

Cyberbullying and the Non-Consensual Distribution of Intimate Images

Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act

Child Sexual Offenders

Modernizing the Criminal Code

Associated Links

• Federation of Law Societies of Canada's National Criminal Law Program

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