Bill C-238 — Law proposed to make criminals pay back victims
Make criminals pay victims
This proposed law focuses on making sure crime victims get money they're owed by criminals. Currently, when someone is found guilty, a judge can order them to pay the victim back for things like stolen property or medical bills. This proposed law would change the rules to help victims actually receive that money. It would make it easier for the courts to enforce these "restitution orders." This proposed law affects anyone who has been a victim of a crime where a judge has ordered the criminal to pay them back. It also affects criminals who have been ordered to pay restitution. The change would likely involve new ways for the government to collect the money from the criminal, so the victim doesn't have to chase after it themselves. This proposed law is important because it aims to give victims a better chance at getting back what they lost. It acknowledges that being a victim of crime is already difficult, and getting financial compensation shouldn't be another struggle. By making it easier to enforce restitution orders, the proposed law hopes to provide more support and justice for victims.
I am happy to speak about my bill, which would change the rules about money paid to victims of crime. It would let courts give money to groups that help people hurt by drug and human trafficking, like shelters and addiction programs. This would help those groups get money to cover their costs.
I think this bill wants to help groups that fight crime and addiction, but I don't think it will work. It adds more steps to the justice system, which is already slow. I think we should focus on giving these groups money directly and punishing criminals properly, not with orders that won't be paid.
I think this bill is strange because it lets groups that help victims get money that should go to the victims themselves. I worry this will mean victims get less money, and I don't think my party can support this bill because the federal government is getting involved in something that is already working.
Where this proposed law falls on the policy spectrums that Canadians care about
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Sign up free — 30 secThis proposed law expands restitution orders under the Criminal Code to include organizations providing front-line services, allowing them to recover certain expenses resulting from specific offenses like human trafficking and drug-related crimes. This could help these organizations better support their communities, but it focuses narrowly on specific expenses and offenses.
Things to Watch For
- The law only covers expenses for specific services and may exclude other costs incurred by front-line organizations.
- It is limited to offenses related to human trafficking and drug crimes, leaving out other potential areas where restitution could be beneficial.
- The process for determining 'reasonable' and 'readily ascertainable' expenses is not defined, which could lead to disputes.
- The law does not specify how the funds will be distributed among multiple eligible organizations if the offender cannot cover all expenses.
- There are no guidelines on how to prioritize which expenses get covered if the restitution amount is insufficient.
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How likely this proposed law is to be approved
This is a private member's bill, which are less likely to pass than government-sponsored laws. It's currently being studied by a committee, which is a positive step, but its overall chances are still low.
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