Bailey McCourt's death prompts Canada's new 'Bailey's Law

On July 4 2025, Bailey McCourt was killed after a daytime hit‑and‑run attack in Kelowna, suspected to be carried out by her estranged ex‑husband James Plover. Police pursued Plover, who was arrested later that day and subsequently charged with first‑degree murder. Plover had previously been convicted of assault and threats in 2024 and was sentenced to a short custodial term in November 2025.

McCourt’s killing galvanized a campaign for stronger protection against intimate‑partner violence. On June 17 2026, Bill C‑225—commonly called “Bailey’s Law”—received Royal Assent, amending Canada’s Criminal Code to create a first‑degree murder offence for killings of intimate partners, impose life imprisonment without parole for at least ten years for manslaughter by offenders with a history of coercive control, and create new offences for threats or violence against intimate partners. The law also extends the seizure period for seized items to 180 days. British Columbia Premier David Eby said, “In my opinion, and an opinion shared by many Canadians, there is a special place in hell for men who murder or attack their spouses or girlfriends.”