First enacted: SC 1892, c 29; carried forward in statute revisions, RSC 1906, c 146 and RSC 1927, c 36; substantially revised and re-enacted, SC 1953-54, c 51; carried forward in statute revisions, RSC 1970, c C-34 and RSC 1985, c C-46
The Criminal Code contains some defences, but most are part of the common law rather than statute. Important Canadian criminal laws not forming part of the Code include the Firearms Act, the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, the Canada Evidence Act, the Food and Drugs Act, the Youth Criminal Justice Act and the Contraventions Act. The Code underwent a major revision in 1954 but nonetheless remains the fundamental criminal law of Canada, despite several initiatives at major reform or the enactment of a new criminal code entirely[3][4][5][6]. In 2019, the Trudeau government made a large revision to the Code which repealed numerous unconstitutional or archaic offences that had remained in it up to that point[7].
One of the conveniences of the Criminal Code was that it constituted the principle that no person could be convicted of a crime unless otherwise specifically outlined and stated in a statute. This legal document has played a major part in Canada's history and has also helped form other legal acts and laws, for example, the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.[8]
Structure
Part I — General
Part II — Offences Against Public Order
Part II.1 — Terrorism
Part III — Firearms and Other Weapons
Part IV — Offences Against the Administration of Law and Justice
Part V — Sexual Offences, Public Morals and Disorderly Conduct
Part VI — Invasion of Privacy
Part VII — Disorderly Houses, Gaming and Betting
Part VIII — Offences Against the Person and Reputation
Part VIII.1 — Offences Relating to Conveyances
Part IX — Offences Against Rights of Property
Part X — Fraudulent Transactions Relating to Contracts and Trade
Part XI — Wilful and Forbidden Acts in Respect of Certain Property
Part XII — Offences Relating to Currency
Part XII.1 — Instruments and Literature for Illicit Drug Use (repealed)
Part XII.2 — Proceeds of Crime
Part XIII — Attempts — Conspiracies — Accessories
Part XIV — Jurisdiction
Part XV — Special Procedure and Powers
Part XVI — Compelling Appearance of an Accused Before a Justice and Interim Release
Part XVII — Language of Accused
Part XVIII — Procedure on Preliminary Inquiry
Part XVIII.1 — Case Management Judge
Part XIX — Indictable Offences — Trial Without Jury
Part XIX.1 — Nunavut Court of Justice
Part XX — Procedure in Jury Trials and General Provisions
Part XX.1 — Mental Disorder
Part XXI — Appeals — Indictable Offences
Part XXI.1 — Applications for Ministerial Review — Miscarriages of Justice
Part XXII — Procuring Attendance
Part XXII.01 — Remote Attendance by Certain Persons
Part XXII.1 — Remediation Agreements
Part XXIII — Sentencing
Part XXIV — Dangerous Offenders and Long-term Offenders
Part XXV — Effect and Enforcement of Undertakings, Release Orders and Recognizances
Part XXVI — Extraordinary Remedies
Part XXVII — Summary Convictions
Part XXVIII — Miscellaneous
History and evolution
The Criminal Code stems from a long history of legal documents. The following documents play a part in the construction and changes brought on the Criminal Code:
Evolution of the Criminal Code (Canada), 1892–present
Ousting from Canadian criminal law any offence under an Act of the British Parliament, "unless such Act is, by the express terms thereof, or of some other Act of such Parliament, made applicable to Canada or some portion thereof as part of Her Majesty's dominions or possessions."[9]
Standardization of the age of criminal culpability, so that no juvenile under the age of seven could be convicted, and those between the ages of seven and thirteen could be convicted only where they were "competent to know the nature and consequences of the conduct, and to appreciate that it was wrong."[10]
Provided for the separation of juvenile offenders from older persons and habitual criminals during arrest, confinement, trial and subsequent imprisonment, as well as integrating efforts with those of children's aid organizations being organized by the provinces.
While the minimum age for those subject to the Act remained at seven years, the maximum age varied by province. By 1982, it was set at 16 in six provinces, 17 for British Columbia and Newfoundland, and 18 for Quebec and Manitoba.[12]
Reenactment of the Code, with modernization of provisions. It abolished all common law offences (other than for contempt of court), as well as any offences created by the British Parliament or in effect under an Act or ordinance in any place before becoming part of Canada.[14]
The Young Offenders Act raised the minimum age of criminal responsibility to 12 years, and standardized the maximum age to 16–18 years (depending on the province), as well as setting limits on the length of sentence that could be imposed.
Enacted in response to the terrorist attack against the World Trade Center in the September 11 attacks, the Anti-Terrorism Act, included provisions regarding the financing of terrorism, the establishment of a list of terrorist entities, the freezing of property, the forfeiture of property, and participating, facilitating, instructing and harbouring of terrorism.