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Mandatory minimums for child abuse material

S-240 An Act to amend the Criminal Code (declaration of exception pursuant to subsection 33(1) of the Charter for mandatory minimum sentences for child sexual abuse and exploitation material offences)

Applies the notwithstanding clause to keep mandatory minimum sentences for possessing or accessing child sexual abuse material.

What Bill S-240 would do

The bill would amend the Criminal Code to declare that mandatory minimum sentences for possessing or accessing child sexual abuse and exploitation material apply notwithstanding section 12 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The published material gives no further detail.

Official text

Official summary

This enactment amends section 163.‍1 of the Criminal Code to declare that paragraphs 163.‍1(4)‍(a) and 163.‍1(4.‍1)‍(a) — which include mandatory minimum sentences for the offences of possession of child sexual abuse and exploitation material and accessing child sexual abuse and exploitation material, respectively — operate notwithstanding section 12 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms . Available on the Senate of Canada website at the following address: www.sencanada.ca/en 1st Session, 45th Parliament, 3 - 4 Charles III, 2025 SENATE OF CANADA BILL S-240 An Act to amend the Criminal Code (declaration of exception pursuant to subsection 33 ( 1 ) of the Charter for mandatory minimum sentences for child sexual abuse and exploitation material offences) His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows: R.‍S.‍, c.

C-46

The government's summary, printed at the front of the bill as introduced.

Kind
Senator's bill
Sponsor
Leo Housakos, Senator
Introduced
in the Senate
Last activity

Where it stands

  1. ProposedNov 5, 2025 Exact stageAt second reading in the Senate · since November 5, 2025Introduced, but not debated yet.
  2. Being debated
  3. Almost law
  4. Law

Introduced November 5, 2025; not debated yet

  1. First reading in the Senate done

    Before the Senate on 1 sitting day,

  2. Second reading in the Senate now

  3. Third reading in the Senate not yet

  4. First reading in the House not yet

  5. Second reading in the House not yet

  6. Committee in the House not yet

  7. Report stage in the House not yet

  8. Third reading in the House not yet

  9. Royal assent not yet

Exact procedural stages

Officially: At second reading in the Senate · since November 5, 2025.

  1. Senate
  2. House
  3. Royal assent

Debates in the House 0

No debate on this bill is in the record we hold yet (Senate debates are not covered).

Discussion

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Status, stages and votes from LEGISinfo. Debates are linked from the House's own record of what was before it. Grades are the site's analysis of each statement.