Keeping Criminals Behind Bars Act, 2026

RÉSUMÉ DU REGISTRE OFFICIEL

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SCHEDULE 1 ANIMALS FOR RESEARCH ACT The Animals for Research Act is amended. Under new section 15.1, invasive medical research on cats, dogs and other prescribed animals is prohibited, subject to specific exceptions. Other research on cats, dogs and other prescribed animals is prohibited unless specific conditions are met. The roles and responsibilities of animal care committees in registered research facilities are set out. Operators of supply facilities are prohibited from breeding cats or dogs for research purposes. Minor offences and major offences, and maximum penalties for each, are set out. Various technical amendments are made, including with respect to the registration of research facilities. SCHEDULE 2 BAIL ACT The Schedule makes various amendments to the Bail Act , including the following: 1. Subsection 1 (1) is repealed and replaced so that certificates of lien are no longer delivered or transmitted to the sheriff of the county in which the land mentioned in the certificate is located but instead registered, in the proper land registry office, against the land mentioned in the certificate for an amount equal to the amount a surety has promised to pay. 2. Section 2 is repealed and replaced to provide that if a surety fails to pay any amount they owe to the Crown under section 771 of the Criminal Code (Canada), the Crown may enforce the lien by sale of the real property against which it is registered. 3. A new section 3 provides that a lien arising from a certificate of lien registered against the land expires six years after the day the certificate was registered, unless certain conditions apply. 4. Section 8 is repealed and replaced to authorize the Minister of the Finance to take measures in order to enforce the collection of debt to the Crown under section 771 of the Criminal Code (Canada). 5. A new section 8.0.1 requires payment from an accused or surety if a release order referred to in section 515 of the Criminal Code (Canada) sets out a requirement for the accused or surety to pay an amount of money if the accused fails to comply with a condition of the order. 6. Related transition rules are set out in a new section 8.4. SCHEDULE 3 CONSTABLE JOE MACDONALD PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS’ SURVIVORS SCHOLARSHIP FUND ACT, 2026 The Schedule enacts the Constable Joe MacDonald Public Safety Officers’ Survivors Scholarship Fund Act, 2026 . The major elements of the Act are described below. Currently, the Constable Joe MacDonald Public Safety Officers’ Survivors Scholarship Fund is established under an Order in Council to provide and distribute scholarships for the surviving spouses and children of public safety officers who died in the line of duty. The Act continues this Fund and sets out rules for the granting of scholarships, while also allowing the scholarships to be granted in circumstances prescribed in the regulations. It also continues the Constable Joe MacDonald Public Safety Officers’ Survivors Scholarship Fund Committee that was originally established by Order in Council and sets out rules respecting its membership and functions. Regulation-making powers are added respecting the Fund and scholarships granted under the Act. SCHEDULE 4 CORONERS ACT The Schedule amends the Coroners Act . Currently, clause 7 (1) (c) of the Act requires the Chief Forensic Pathologist to conduct programs for the instruction of pathologists. This is replaced with new requirements to facilitate the postgraduate training of pathologists and to conduct continuing education programs. New section 50.2 is added to the Act. This section prohibits photographs, audio or video recordings or other records at an inquest and in certain related contexts. It also prohibits the publication, broadcasting or reproduction of those records. Exceptions are set out for notes, sketches, certain audio recordings and specified records that have been authorized by the presiding coroner. Contraventions of this section are offences. SCHEDULE 5 HIGHWAY TRAFFIC ACT The Schedule makes various amendments to the Highway Traffic Act relating to driver’s licence suspensions, vehicle impoundments and increased fines in certain circumstances, including amendments providing for and respecting the following: 1. Indefinite suspension, in certain circumstances, of the driver’s licence of a person who is convicted of a Criminal Code (Canada) offence respecting dangerous operation of a conveyance causing death. 2. Suspension of a person’s driver’s licence and the impoundment of the person’s vehicle if a police officer believes a contravention of Criminal Code (Canada) provisions respecting dangerous operation of conveyances has occurred. 3. The right to appeal the impoundment of the person’s vehicle for driving while the person’s licence is suspended and the grounds and processes for the appeal.