On Thursday October 10, 2024, Bill C-291 received royal assent, making several foundational amendments to the Criminal Code, RSC, 1985, c. C-46 (the “Criminal Code”).
The main amendment introduced is the replacement of “child pornography” with “child sexual abuse and exploitation material” in the following provisions:
- in the Criminal Code,
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- Section 163.1(1);
- in An Act respecting the mandatory reporting of Internet child pornography by persons who provide an Internet service, SC 2011 c.4,
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- the title of the Act,
- sections 1 to 3,
- section 6, and
- section 9;
- in the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, SC 1992, c.20,
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- subparagraph (a)(iv.1) of the definition sexual offence involving a child in subsection 129(9), and
- paragraph 1(j.1) of Schedule I;
- subparagraph 1(a)(v) of Schedule 1 to the Criminal Records Act RSC, 1985, C-47;
- subsection 183.5(5) of the National Defence Act, RSC, 1985 c. N-5 as enacted by section 28 of An Act to amend the National Defence Act and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts, SC 2019, c.15 chapter 15 of the Statutes of Canada, 2019.
Bill C-29 introduces several foundational amendments to criminal law and will come into force on the first anniversary of the day it receives royal assent. For a more detailed overview of these amendments, read the complete Bill C-291 here.
