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Minutes of Proceedings

Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights (JUST)
45th Parliament, 1st Session
Meeting 31
Wednesday, May 27, 2026, 4:42 p.m. to 6:01 p.m.
Webcast
Presiding
James Maloney, Chair (Liberal)

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House of Commons
• Michelle Legault, Legislative Clerk
• Andrew Wilson, Legislative Clerk
 
Library of Parliament
• Isabelle Chénier, Analyst
• Iryna Zazulya, Analyst
Bill C-231, An Act to amend the Youth Criminal Justice Act
House of Commons
• Luc Berthold, Mégantic—L'Érable—Lotbinière
As an individual
• Justine Berthold, Nurse
• Caroline Levesque, Early Childhood Educator
• Angy Riendeau, Criminologist
Department of Justice
• Charles Bélanger, Director and General Counsel, Youth Criminal Justice Division
• Lise-Anne Wheeler, Counsel, Youth Criminal Justice Division
Pursuant to the order of reference of Wednesday, April 15, 2026, the committee commenced consideration of Bill C-231, An Act to amend the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

The Chair called Clause 1.

Luc Berthold, Caroline Levesque, Justine Berthold and Angy Riendeau made statements and answered questions.

At 5:49 p.m., the meeting was suspended.

At 5:53 p.m., the meeting resumed.

The committee commenced its clause-by-clause study of the Bill.

By unanimous consent, it was agreed, — That, Luc Berthold be permitted to move his amendments.

On Clause 1,

Luc Berthold moved, — That Bill C-231, in Clause 1, be amended by replacing lines 8 to 17 on page 1 with the following:

“person is alleged to have committed an offence under subsection 4(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act or subsection 8(1) of the Cannabis Act, the police officer shall consider whether it would be sufficient to refer the young person, with the young person’s consent, to a problematic substance use treatment program.”

The question was put on the amendment of Luc Berthold and it was agreed to.

Clause 1, as amended, carried.

On Clause 2,

Luc Berthold moved, — That Bill C-231, in Clause 2, be amended by replacing lines 18 to 24 on page 1 with the following:

“2 Section 10 of the Act is amended by adding the following after subsection (3):

(3.1) An extrajudicial sanction may include requiring a young person to attend a problematic substance use treatment program or any other treatment program.”

The question was put on the amendment of Luc Berthold and it was agreed to.

Clause 2, as amended, carried.

Clause 3 was negatived.

On new Clause 3.1,

Luc Berthold moved, — That Bill C-231 be amended by adding after line 4 on page 2 the following:

“3.1 The Act is amended by adding the following after section 41:

41.1 If a youth justice court finds a young person guilty of any offence, the court may, before imposing a specific sentence, while taking into account the principles set out in subparagraphs 3(1)(b)(iv) and (v) and the purpose and principles set out in section 38 and with the consent of the Attorney General and the young person, delay sentencing to enable the young person to attend a problematic substance use treatment program or any other treatment program.”

The question was put on the amendment of Luc Berthold and it was agreed to.

On Clause 4,

Luc Berthold moved, — That Bill C-231, in Clause 4, be amended by

(a) replacing line 13 on page 2 with the following:

“gram referred to in section 41.1, and any other rele-”

(b) replacing lines 15 to 35 on page 2 with the following:

“(2) Paragraph 42(2)(m) of the Act is replaced by the following:”

(c) replacing lines 38 and 39 on page 2 with the following:

“tend a non-residential program — including a problematic substance use treatment program or any other treatment program — approved by the provincial”

The question was put on the amendment of Luc Berthold and it was agreed to.

Clause 4, as amended, carried.

On Clause 5,

Luc Berthold moved, — That Bill C-231, in Clause 5, be amended by replacing lines 5 to 8 on page 3 with the following:

“(e.1) attend a problematic substance use treatment program or any other treatment program;”

The question was put on the amendment of Luc Berthold and it was agreed to.

Clause 5, as amended, carried.

On new Clause 5.1,

Luc Berthold moved, — That Bill C-231 be amended by adding after line 8 on page 3 the following:

“5.1 Subsection 105(3) of the Act is amended by adding the following after paragraph (c):

(c.1) attend a problematic substance use treatment program or any other treatment program;”

The question was put on the amendment of Luc Berthold and it was agreed to.

On new Clause 5.2,

Luc Berthold moved, — That Bill C-231 be amended by adding after line 8 on page 3 the following:

“5.2 If Bill C-16, introduced in the 1st session of the 45th Parliament and entitled the Protecting Victims Act, receives royal assent, then on the first day on which both section 123 of that Act and section 1 of this Act are in force, section 6.1 of the Youth Criminal Justice Act is amended by adding the following after (1):

(1.1) For the purposes of subsection (1), if the young person is alleged to have committed an offence under subsection 4(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act or subsection 8(1) of the Cannabis Act, the prosecutor shall consider whether it would be sufficient to refer the young person, with the young person’s consent, to a problematic substance use treatment program.”

The question was put on the amendment of Luc Berthold and it was agreed to.

On new Clause 5.3,

Patricia Lattanzio moved, — That Bill C-231 be amended by adding after line 8 on page 3 the following:

“5.3 This Act, other than section 5.2, comes into force on the 30th day after the day on which it receives royal assent.”

The question was put on the amendment of Patricia Lattanzio and it was agreed to.

The Title carried.

The Bill, as amended, was adopted.

ORDERED, — That the Chair report the Bill, as amended, to the House.

ORDERED, — That Bill C-231, as amended, be reprinted for the use of the House of Commons at report stage.

At 6:01 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.



Jean-François Lafleur
Clerk of the committee