Canada passes Protecting Victims Act, overhauling Criminal Code to curb gender‑based violence and child abuse

The Canadian government has enacted the Protecting Victims Act (Bill C‑16), which received Royal Assent in June 2026. The legislation introduces three major reforms to the Criminal Code: femicide is now classified as first‑degree murder; a new offence of coercive control targets patterns of intimidation, isolation, or manipulation in intimate relationships; and criminal harassment provisions are streamlined to make proof easier. It also criminalises the threat to distribute non‑consensual intimate images, including deep‑fake pornography, and raises maximum penalties for sexual assault and voyeurism.

In addition, the Act reinstates mandatory minimum sentences for a range of offences against children, aiming to create consistent, deterrent punishment and improve protection for minors. The reforms provide clearer guidance for courts on managing case delays, strengthen victims’ rights throughout the judicial process, and expand mandatory minimum penalties across several violent and sexual crimes. The government says the changes will give law‑enforcement and the courts stronger tools to intervene early and reduce the trauma experienced by victims and survivors.

The updates are presented as a major step toward addressing rising gender‑based violence, intimate‑partner abuse, and child exploitation across Canada.