Vol. 147, No. 5 — February 27, 2013

Registration

SI/2013-13 February 27, 2013

SAFE STREETS AND COMMUNITIES ACT

Order Fixing February 28, 2013 as the Day on which Section 160 of the Act Comes into Force

P.C. 2013-121 February 7, 2013

His Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, pursuant to subsection 166(1) of the Safe Streets and Communities Act, chapter 1 of the Statutes of Canada, 2012, fixes February 28, 2013 as the day on which section 160 of that Act comes into force.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order.)

Proposal

The Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness proposes, pursuant to section 166(1) of the Safe Streets and Communities Act, to fix the coming into force date of section 160 as February 28, 2013. This section amends various federal acts (e.g. Criminal Code) to reflect the legal name change of the National Parole Board to the Parole Board of Canada.

Objective

To seek the approval of the Governor in Council to fix February 28, 2013, as the coming into force date of section 160 of the Safe Streets and Communities Act.

Background

The Safe Streets and Communities Act (the Act) fulfills the Government’s June 2011 Speech from the Throne commitment to “move quickly to re-introduce comprehensive law-and-order legislation to combat crime and terrorism.” The Act is comprised of nine former criminal justice bills that were not fully considered in the previous session of Parliament.

There are five parts to the Act. Part 1 includes new measures to deter terrorism by supporting victims of terrorism and amending the State Immunity Act (former Bill S-7). Part 2 includes sentencing reforms that target sexual offences against children (former Bill C-54) and serious drug offences (former Bill S-10), and that prevent the use of conditional sentences for serious violent and property crimes (former Bill C-16).

Part 3 includes post-sentencing reforms to increase offender accountability (former Bill C-39), eliminate pardons for serious crimes (former Bill C-23B), and strengthen the international transfer of offenders regime (former Bill C-5). Part 4 includes reforms to youth criminal justice (former Bill C-4), and Part 5 includes immigration reforms to protect vulnerable foreign workers (former Bill C-56).

The Corrections and Conditional Release Act (CCRA) is the legislative framework for federal corrections and conditional release systems in Canada. Part II of the CCRA outlines the legislative framework for federal conditional release and establishes the Parole Board of Canada, including the constitution and jurisdiction of the Board.

Section 160 of Part 3 of the Act relates to terminology changes in other legislation as a result of the legal name change of the National Parole Board to the Parole Board of Canada. All of the other sections in Part 3 are currently in force.

Implications

There is no new investment required to support this amendment and no implications for any other order of Government, as this is simply a change in terminology.

Consultation

In 2007, the Government appointed a panel to review Correctional Service of Canada’s operations. The review panel’s report contained 109 recommendations and the measures contained within the Act are the legislative response to some of these recommendations.

Witnesses who appeared before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights and the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs in February 2012, spoke for and against various components of Bill C-10. There were no concerns raised with regard to the name change to the Parole Board of Canada.

Departmental contact

For more information, please contact

Ms. Mary Campbell
Director General
Corrections and Criminal Justice Directorate
Public Safety Canada
Telephone: 613-991-2592