C-233 – An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Judges Act (violence against an intimate partner) – makes a small change to the Criminal Code and the Judges Act. These changes are meant to protect intimate partners that someone has committed an act of violence towards.
Criminal Code
First is the change to the Criminal Code. C-233 allows a judge to require someone wear an electronic monitoring device if they aren’t being held until their trial, if the Attorney General asks for it. One of the offences this could apply to before involved violence or threats of violence against another person, and C-233 clarifies that this includes violence against an intimate partner.
It’s worth noting that this also includes terrorism offences, as well as assault and intimidation.
Judges Act
Currently the Judges Act includes the requirement for judges to attend seminars on a few topics so they can stay up-to-date on them. C-233 adds intimate partner violence, and coercive control in intimate partner and family relationships to the list of topics.
Status
C-233 has completed its run through the Senate without change and was granted Royal Assent on April 27, 2023.