Department of Justice

BILLS TO STRENGTHEN JUSTICE SYSTEM
RECEIVE ROYAL ASSENT

OTTAWA, June 18, 1999 ¾ Three bills that mark critical milestones in the Government of Canada's efforts to improve the criminal justice system received royal assent late yesterday.

Bill C-40, which modernizes extradition laws, came into force last night. In addition, the Honourable Anne McLellan, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, announced that Bill C-82, which significantly increases penalties for drunk driving, and Bill C-79, which ensures victims of crime a stronger voice and more compassionate treatment in the criminal justice system, also received royal assent.

Bill C-82 is expected to come into force before the summer. It is anticipated that Bill C-79 will be proclaimed in the fall. Both bills were based on recommendations put forward in separate reports by the all-party Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights and received broad support in the House of Commons and Senate.

"I am pleased that the Government and Parliament have responded quickly to the concerns of Canadians in making the Committee's recommendations law," said Minister McLellan. "The timely passage of these bills is a testament to the individuals and community organizations who have worked courageously to bring public attention to these issues."

Provisions in Bill C-82 will increase penalties for people convicted of impaired driving and give more tools to police to investigate impaired driving cases. The Government has also introduced Bill C-87, which would raise the maximum sentence for impaired driving causing death from the current 14 years to life imprisonment.

Bill C-79 increases the victim surcharge that offenders must pay upon conviction, which should increase revenues available to the provinces and territories for victims' services. Other reforms include important changes to the use of victim impact statements in court and additional protections and support to victims when they appear in court.

The Extradition Act (Bill C-40) puts more effective tools in the hands of police to fight international crime and makes Canada's extradition process more accessible for other countries.

These bills are the latest in the Government of Canada's efforts to make communities safer and to strengthen the criminal justice system. Earlier this spring, Minister McLellan introduced the Youth Criminal Justice Act (Bill C-68), which ensures young offenders face meaningful consequences for their crimes.

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For more information:

Bill C-79
Catherine Kane
Criminal Law Policy
(613) 957-4690

Bill C-82
Hal Pruden
Criminal Law
(613) 941-4138

Bill C-40
Lucie Angers
Policy Criminal Law Policy
(613) 957-4750

Susan Gardner-Barclay
Public Affairs
(613) 941-4021