This enactment amends the Criminal Code and the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act to, among other things, repeal certain mandatory minimum penalties, allow for a greater use of conditional sentences and establish diversion measures for simple drug possession offences.

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

Subsequent offences

(5) In determining, for the purpose of subsection 99(2), 100(2) or 103(2), whether a convicted person has committed a second or subsequent offence, if the person was earlier convicted of any of the following offences, that offence is to be considered as an earlier offence:

Punishment

(3) Every person who commits an offence under subsection (1) or (2) is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than 14 years.

Punishment

(3) Every person who commits an offence under subsection (1) or (2) is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than 10 years.

• (a) is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than 10 years; or

• (a) is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than 10 years; or

Punishment — other cases

(3) In any other case, a person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than 10 years.

Punishment — other cases

(3) In any other case, a person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than 10 years.

Punishment — other cases

(2.‍1) In any other case, a person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than 10 years.

• (a) is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than five years; or

• (b) in any other case, to imprisonment for a term of not more than 14 years.

• (b) in any other case, is liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than 14 years.

• (c) the offence is not an offence under any of the following provisions:

  • (i) section 239, for which a sentence is imposed under paragraph 239(1)‍(b) (attempt to commit murder),

  • (ii) section 269.‍1 (torture), or

  • (iii) section 318 (advocating genocide); and

• (a) if the subject matter of the offence is a substance included in Schedule I or II, is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for life;

• (a) if the subject matter of the offence is a substance included in Schedule I or II, is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for life;

• (a) if the subject matter of the offence is a substance included in Schedule I or II, is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for life;

Factors to take into consideration

(2) If a person is convicted of a designated substance offence, the court imposing sentence on the person shall consider any relevant aggravating factors including that the person

PART I.‍1 

Evidence-based Diversion Measures

Principles

Declaration of principles

10.‍1 The following principles apply in this Part:

• (a) problematic substance use should be addressed primarily as a health and social issue;

• (b) interventions should be founded on evidence-based best practices and should aim to protect the health, dignity and human rights of individuals who use drugs and to reduce harm to those individuals, their families and their communities;

• (c) criminal sanctions imposed in respect of the possession of drugs for personal use can increase the stigma associated with drug use and are not consistent with established public health evidence;

• (d) interventions should address the root causes of problematic substance use, including by encouraging measures such as education, treatment, aftercare, rehabilitation and social reintegration; and

• (e) judicial resources are more appropriately used in relation to offences that pose a risk to public safety.

Warnings and Referrals

Warnings and referrals

10.‍2 (1) A peace officer shall, instead of laying an information against an individual alleged to have committed an offence under subsection 4(1), consider whether it would be preferable, having regard to the principles set out in section 10.‍1, to take no further action, to warn the individual or, with the consent of the individual, to refer the individual to a program or to an agency or other service provider in the community that may assist the individual.

Subsequent charges not invalidated

(2) The failure of a peace officer to consider the options set out in subsection (1) does not invalidate any subsequent charges laid against the individual for the offence.

Prosecution — limits

10.‍3 A prosecution may be commenced or continued against an individual alleged to have committed an offence under subsection 4(1) only if, having regard to the principles set out in section 10.‍1, the prosecutor is of the opinion that the use of a warning or referral under section 10.‍2, or of alternative measures as defined in section 716 of the Criminal Code, is not appropriate, and a prosecution is appropriate in the circumstances.

Record of warning or referral

10.‍4  Insertion start (1) Insertion end  The police force to which a peace officer referred to in section 10.‍2 belongs Insertion start shall Insertion end keep a record of any Insertion start warning given Insertion end or referral Insertion start made under subsection 10.‍2(1), including the identity of the individual warned or referred Insertion end .

Access to information

(2) Any information contained in the record kept pursuant to subsection (1) may be made available to:

• (a) any judge or court for any purpose relating to proceedings with respect to the offence to which the record relates;

• (b) any peace officer for any purpose related to the administration of the case to which the record relates; or

• (c) any member of a department or agency of a government in Canada, or any agent of that department or agency, that is

  • (i) engaged in the administration of alternative measures, within the meaning of section 716 of the Criminal Code, in respect of that person, or

  • (ii) preparing a report for the purpose of informing proceedings with respect to the offence to which the record relates.

    End of inserted block

Access to information — alternative measures

(3) Information contained in the record, other than the identity of the person, may be made available to any member of a department or agency of a government in Canada, or any agent of the department or agency, that is engaged in assessing and monitoring the use of alternative measures and assessing their effectiveness, including for research or statistical purposes.

Evidence of warning or referral not admissible

10.‍5 Evidence that an individual has received a warning or referral mentioned in subsection 10.‍2(1), evidence that a peace officer has taken no further action in respect of an offence under subsection 4(1) and evidence of the offence are inadmissible for the purpose of proving prior offending behaviour in any proceedings before a court in respect of the individual.

Conservation of record — conviction

10.‍6 (1) Any record of a conviction that occurs before the day on which this section comes into force in respect of an offence under subsection 4(1) must be kept separate and apart from other records of convictions within two years after that day.

Conservation of record — deeming

(2) A conviction that occurs after this section comes into force in respect of an offence under subsection 4(1) is kept separate and apart from other records of convictions two years after the conviction or two years after the expiry of any sentence imposed for the offence, whichever is later, and the person convicted of the offence is deemed never to have been convicted of that offence.

Regulations

(3) The Governor in Council may make regulations respecting the use, removal or destruction of records kept separate and apart referred to in subsections (1) and (2).

Exception for Service Providers

Exception

10.‍7 No social worker, medical professional or other service provider in the community commits an offence under subsection 4(1) if, in the course of their duties, they come into possession of a substance included in Schedule I, II or III and they intend to, within a reasonable period, lawfully dispose of it.