An Act to amend the Criminal Code (consecutive sentences for sexual offences)

This bill makes a single, focused change to the Criminal Code's sentencing rules. It amends the section dealing with how prison sentences are combined when a person is convicted of multiple offences.

Under the new rule, when a court sentences someone for a sexual offence, it must order that the prison sentence for that offence be served consecutively (one after another, not at the same time) rather than concurrently. This applies in two situations: when the person is being sentenced for more than one sexual offence at the same time, and when the person is already serving a sentence for a sexual offence at the time they are sentenced for a new one.

In practical terms, this removes judges' discretion to let sentences for sexual offences run at the same time as each other. Currently judges can choose to have such sentences overlap (concurrent sentences), which often results in a shorter total time served; under this bill, each sexual offence sentence would be added on top of the others, generally leading to longer total prison time for people convicted of multiple sexual offences. The preamble explains the intent is to ensure sentences reflect the harm caused by each individual offence and to strengthen denunciation and deterrence of sexual violence, while still respecting the general principle that sentences must be proportionate.

This bill amends the Criminal Code to require judges to impose consecutive rather than concurrent prison sentences when sentencing someone for multiple sexual offences.

• Obligation on courts — a judge sentencing an accused for a sexual offence must direct that the sentence be served consecutively to any other sentence for a sexual offence imposed at the same time, or to any other sexual-offence sentence the accused is already subject to at the time of sentencing.
• Removal of discretion — the current provision, which allows judges latitude on whether such sentences run concurrently or consecutively, is replaced with a mandatory direction ("the court shall direct"), leaving no judicial discretion on this specific point.
• Scope — the requirement applies to "any" sexual offence sentence, without listing exceptions, limits on the number of offences, or caps on the resulting combined sentence length.
• No new body or reporting mechanism — the bill creates no new office, agency, or review process; it only changes how existing courts must structure sentences under the Criminal Code.
• No sunset or review clause — the amendment is permanent as drafted, with no stated date or mechanism for revisiting the rule.