RECOMMENDATION

Her Excellency the Governor General recommends to the House of Commons the appropriation of public revenue under the circumstances, in the manner and for the purposes set out in a measure entitled ``An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to amend other Acts''.

SUMMARY

This enactment amends the Criminal Code by

    (a) adding offences and other measures that provide additional protection to children from sexual exploitation, including sexual exploitation involving use of the Internet;

    (b) increasing the maximum penalty for criminal harassment;

    (c) making home invasions an aggravating circumstance for sentencing purposes;

    (d) creating an offence of disarming, or attempting to disarm, a peace officer;

    (e) codifying and clarifying the review process for applications to the Minister of Justice with respect to allegations of miscarriage of justice; and

    (f) reforming and modernizing criminal procedure with respect to

      (i) procedural aspects of preliminary inquiries,

      (ii) the disclosure of expert evidence,

      (iii) rules of court in relation to case management and preliminary inquiries,

      (iv) electronic documents and remote appearances,

      (v) a plea comprehension inquiry scheme,

      (vi) private prosecutions,

      (vii) the selection of alternate jurors, and

      (viii) restriction on the use of agents.

This enactment also amends the following Acts:

    (a) the National Capital Act, by increasing the maximum fine available; and

    (b) the National Defence Act, by providing for fingerprinting.