Bill C-332,  An Act to amend the Criminal Code (coercive control of intimate partner), has begun its Second Reading in the Senate and for the first time, is being examined by Canada’s Upper House.

Introduced in May 2023 by Victoria MP Laurel Collins, Bill C-332 was vigorously debated in the House of Commons, leading to substantial amendments. You can read the current text of the bill here.

Now, senators have their opportunity to have their say.

The Honourable Julie Miville-Dechêne kicked off the second reading with a speech outlining the merits of the bill, before taking questions from Senate colleagues. The debate is continuing on Sept. 18, and may stretch over a number of sitting days.

Following the Second Reading, it will be referred for consideration by the Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs. The Committee may call for experts to testify. 

See the graphic below for a full picture of the bill’s legislative journey, and continue to follow us for updates on its progress, including opportunities for you to share your views. 

Want to track the debate in the Senate? 

• The Order and Notice Paper shows the agenda for each sitting day. Sitting days usually start at about 2 p.m. ET, or 12 p.m. MT. 
• Transcripts from each sitting day can be found in LEGISinfo, here. 
•  Sittings of the Senate, and many committee meetings, are broadcast live and available for replay. Find the links here for live broadcasts, and here for recordings.