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A free weekly newsletter that breaks down Canadian federal bills in plain English. We read what's moving through Parliament so you don't have to — and tell you why you should care, or shouldn't.
No legal jargon. No political spin. Bills explained the way a friend would explain them.
We tell you what each party says and where each bill sits on the political spectrum — then let you decide.
Every bill includes a "What this means for you" section so you understand the real-world impact.
A real BillBrief breakdown of Bill C-16 — front to back.
Criminal Code overhaul — child safety, deepfakes, partner violence
A big Criminal Code update. New crimes for coercive control, sextortion, and deepfake intimate images. Tougher penalties for crimes against children. Restores mandatory minimum sentences with a new workaround for judges.
A pattern of isolating, monitoring, or financially controlling an intimate partner would be its own offence for the first time in Canada.
Making or sharing AI-generated sexual images without consent becomes illegal. Threatening to share intimate images (real or fake) becomes a separate crime. Max penalty jumps to 10 years.
Murders involving control, hate, or sexual violence would automatically be first-degree murder. When the victim is a woman, the law calls it femicide.
All mandatory minimum sentences previously struck down by courts get restored. But judges can now go below the minimum if it would be "grossly disproportionate."
→ If someone makes a sexual deepfake of you or threatens to share your intimate images, there's now a specific crime for that — not a grey area.
→ If you're a parent, platforms like Instagram and Snapchat would face stricter rules about reporting child exploitation content.
→ Partner abuse that isn't physical — controlling finances, isolating from friends, constant monitoring — would now be a Criminal Code offence on its own.
One of the biggest Criminal Code updates in years. Addresses things that are already happening to people — deepfake abuse, sextortion targeting teens, coercive partners — but the law hasn't caught up to yet.
✓ Dec 2025 — Introduced in the House of Commons
✓ Feb 2026 — Passed second reading, sent to committee
● Now — Being studied by the Justice Committee
○ TBD — Still needs third reading, Senate approval, and Royal Assent
Liberal (sponsor): Introduced the bill. Framing it as protecting victims and kids while modernizing the Criminal Code.
Conservative: Generally supportive of tougher sentencing but critical that the "safety valve" weakens mandatory minimums.
Bloc Québécois: Engaged in debate. Raised concerns about provisions and Quebec's legal framework.
Mixes progressive goals (coercive control, victim rights) with traditionally conservative positions (restoring mandatory minimums).
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