Senate passes Victims Bill of Rights that will ‘dilute’ Gladue principles – APTN

April 22, 2015

OTTAWA – Aboriginal people before the courts may soon find applying Gladue principles more difficult after the Senate on Wednesday passed the Harper government’s Victims Bill of Rights.

Also known as Bill C-32, the new legislation will dilute a section of the Criminal Code that asks judges to exercise restraint in sentencing Aboriginal offenders, said Sen. Serge Joyal.

Joyal tabled an amendment to delete the section in the bill that impacts Gladue principles, but it was defeated by the Conservative Senate majority in the Red Chamber. The legislation will trigger dozens of changes to the Criminal Code, including section 718.2 {e} – commonly referred to as the Gladue section. Those changes will become law 90 days after the bill receives Royal Assent from the Governor General.

Read More: http://aptn.ca/news/2015/04/22/senate-passes-victims-bill-rights-will-dilute-gladue-principles/