This enactment amends the Criminal Code to require the court to consider as an aggravating circumstance the fact that a person was in possession of a weapon in or near a hospital, on or near hospital grounds or in or near any other public health care facility.

It also amends the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act to prevent the Minister from granting an exemption that would result in the illicit or unprescribed use of a controlled substance in a hospital.

His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

Aggravating circumstance — hospital or health care facility

(3) Without limiting the generality of section 718.‍2, if a person is convicted of an offence under subsection (1), the court imposing the sentence shall consider as an aggravating circumstance the fact that the offence was committed in or near a hospital, on or near hospital grounds or in or near any other public health care facility.

Exception

(3) The Minister is not authorized under subsection (1) to grant an exemption that would result in the illicit or unprescribed use of a controlled substance in a hospital.

For greater certainty

(4) For greater certainty, subsection (3) does not apply to the prescribed use of a controlled substance in a hospital by a patient, as authorized by, and under the supervision of, a practitioner.