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Abstract: 

This article analyzes Canada’s proposed Bill C-225, introduced by Conservative MP Frank Caputo, which seeks to fundamentally strengthen the criminal law response to intimate partner violence (IPV). Framed as a recognition that IPV is distinct from other forms of assault, the bill would create new, specific offenses for violence and harassment against intimate partners, impose the strictest bail conditions on accused offenders, and automatically classify the murder of an intimate partner or their child as first-degree murder. Drawing on national crime data and Caputo’s experience as a parole officer and prosecutor, the article situates the proposal within the Conservative Party’s broader tough-on-crime agenda and explores its potential implications for survivor safety, offender accountability, and the future of IPV law in Canada.

Keywords: Intimate Partner Violence; Criminal Code Reform; Domestic Violence Penalties; Bail and Detention; Canadian Criminal Justice

Affiliations:  1: Editor.