C-255 (45-1) - An Act to amend the Criminal Code (mischief — religious property)
Chamber
commons
Stage
1st Reading
Introduced
Nov 6, 2025
Progress
This bill increases Criminal Code penalties for vandalism or damage to religious buildings, objects, and cemeteries.
Key Changes
- Creates a new specific Criminal Code offence for mischief against religious property (churches, mosques, synagogues, temples, cemeteries, and associated religious objects)
- Introduces mandatory minimum compensation of $1,000 to the property owner for every conviction
- Adds mandatory minimum jail time of 14 days for a second offence
- Adds mandatory minimum jail time of 30 days for each subsequent offence
- Sets a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment if prosecuted by indictment
- Sets a maximum penalty of two years less a day if prosecuted by summary conviction
Gotchas
- Mandatory minimum sentences in Canada have been subject to Charter challenges under Section 12 (protection against cruel and unusual treatment), meaning courts could strike down these minimums if found unconstitutional
- The bill applies to both religiously motivated and non-religiously motivated mischief against religious property — the offender's intent or motivation is not a required element
- The $1,000 mandatory compensation is paid to the property owner, not the government, which is an unusual feature compared to typical fines
- The bill does not define 'primarily used for religious worship,' which could lead to legal disputes about which buildings qualify
- Existing Criminal Code provisions already treat mischief motivated by bias or hate as an aggravating factor at sentencing, so this bill creates an additional, overlapping layer of penalties
Who's Affected
- People who vandalize or damage religious buildings, objects, or cemeteries
- Religious communities and organizations that own or operate places of worship
- Cemeteries associated with religious groups
- Crown prosecutors who decide how to charge mischief offences involving religious property
Vibes
0 responses
Gotchas
- Mandatory minimum sentences in Canada have been subject to Charter challenges under Section 12 (protection against cruel and unusual treatment), meaning courts could strike down these minimums if found unconstitutional
- The bill applies to both religiously motivated and non-religiously motivated mischief against religious property — the offender's intent or motivation is not a required element
- The $1,000 mandatory compensation is paid to the property owner, not the government, which is an unusual feature compared to typical fines
- The bill does not define 'primarily used for religious worship,' which could lead to legal disputes about which buildings qualify
- Existing Criminal Code provisions already treat mischief motivated by bias or hate as an aggravating factor at sentencing, so this bill creates an additional, overlapping layer of penalties
Summary
Bill C-255 amends the Criminal Code to create stronger punishments specifically for mischief (vandalism or damage) committed against religious property. This includes churches, mosques, synagogues, temples, religious objects on those grounds, and cemeteries. Currently, mischief related to religious property is covered under existing mischief laws, but this bill creates a dedicated provision with mandatory minimum penalties. The bill introduces mandatory minimum punishments that increase with repeat offences: a first offence requires at least $1,000 in compensation to the property owner; a second offence adds a minimum of 14 days in jail on top of the $1,000; and any further offences require at least 30 days in jail plus the $1,000 compensation. Maximum sentences can reach up to 10 years if prosecuted by indictment, or up to two years less a day for summary conviction. This bill was introduced as a private member's bill by Mrs. Block in November 2025, likely in response to ongoing concerns about vandalism and hate-motivated attacks on religious sites across Canada.
Automatically generated from bill text using Claude
Vibes
0 responses