Cameron Miranda
On June 21, 2019, Canada passed Bill C-84, which amended the Criminal Code to broaden the scope of three criminal offences related to bestiality and animal fighting. The bill was introduced in the House of Commons by the then Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Jody Wilson-Raybould, on October 18, 2018. It received its second reading and was referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights on October 29, 2018. The committee made amendments to the bill, which were adopted by the House of Commons on May 8, 2019. The bill prohibits certain activities related to bestiality and animal fighting and provides a definition of bestiality. This amendment addressed gaps in the law by criminalizing any sexual contact between a person and an animal.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the bill | Bill C-84 |
| Date introduced | 18 October 2018 |
| Introduced by | Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Jody Wilson-Raybould |
| Date passed by the House of Commons | 8 May 2019 |
| Date reported to the Senate without amendment | 13 June 2019 |
| Date passed by the Senate | 18 June 2019 |
| Date received Royal Assent | 21 June 2019 |
| Purpose | To amend the Criminal Code to broaden the scope of three criminal offences in order to prohibit certain activities related to bestiality and animal fighting |
| Key provisions | Defines "bestiality", adds new animal prohibition and restitution court order provisions |
| Previous considerations | The Canadian Centre for Child Protection Inc.'s report "Bestiality" published in December 2018, which examined the definition, scope and prevalence of bestiality |
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What You'll Learn
- Bill C-84 amends Criminal Code to include bestiality and animal fighting
- The amendment addresses gaps in the law by criminalising sexual contact with animals
- The amendment broadens the scope of three criminal offences
- The Canadian Centre for Child Protection Inc. published a report on bestiality in Canadian case law
- The report found there was little information on bestiality and that most incidents would not be reported
Bill C-84 amends Criminal Code to include bestiality and animal fighting
On October 18, 2018, the then Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Jody Wilson-Raybould, introduced Bill C-84 in the House of Commons. The bill, which sought to amend the Criminal Code to include bestiality and animal fighting, received its second reading on October 29, 2018, and was referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights. The committee made amendments to the bill, which were adopted by the House of Commons on May 8, 2019. Subsequently, the bill was studied and reported to the Senate without amendment by the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology on June 13, 2019. The Senate passed the bill on June 18, 2019, and it received Royal Assent three days later.
Bill C-84 amends the Criminal Code to broaden the scope of three criminal offences related to bestiality and animal fighting. Firstly, it defines "bestiality" in section 160 of the Criminal Code as any contact for a sexual purpose between a person and an animal. This addresses a gap in the law identified by the Supreme Court of Canada in the case of R. v. D.L.W. in 2016, where the Court held that bestiality offences were limited to sexual acts with animals involving penetration. The broadened definition increases protections for children and vulnerable individuals who may be compelled to engage in or witness bestiality, ensuring that all sexual acts with animals are criminalized.
Secondly, the bill expands the offence of encouraging, aiding, or assisting at the fighting or baiting of animals or birds. It includes promoting, arranging, receiving money for, or taking part in such activities, as well as training, transporting, or breeding animals or birds for these purposes. Additionally, it expands the scope of the offence of building, making, maintaining, or keeping a cockpit for animal fighting to include any arena used for this purpose. These amendments strengthen the laws around animal cruelty and animal fighting, providing law enforcement with better tools to crack down on these activities.
Lastly, Bill C-84 maintains the existing penalties for bestiality offences, which range from a minimum of six months' imprisonment on summary conviction to one year on indictment. These penalties are in line with the sentencing principles of denunciation, deterrence, and the need to separate offenders from society, particularly in cases where children are involved. The bill also requires individuals convicted of bestiality to register with the national sex offender registry.
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The amendment addresses gaps in the law by criminalising sexual contact with animals
On October 18, 2018, the then Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Jody Wilson-Raybould, introduced Bill C-84, an Act to amend the Criminal Code regarding bestiality and animal fighting, to the House of Commons. The bill was passed by the Senate on June 18, 2019, and received Royal Assent three days later.
Bill C-84 addresses gaps in the law by criminalising any sexual contact with animals. This amendment was designed in response to the D.L.W. case, where a stepfather was acquitted of bestiality charges as, although he forced his stepdaughters to perform sexual acts with the family dog, there was no penetration. The amendment to section 160 contained in Bill C-84 criminalises any contact for a sexual purpose between a person and an animal.
The Canadian Centre for Child Protection Inc. published a report in December 2018 titled "Bestiality" as reflected in Canadian case law: Considerations for protecting children and animals after R v DLW. The report noted that there was little information available on the issue of bestiality and that most incidents would not be reported to the police. It also highlighted the need to expand the criminal definition of bestiality, as there were more examples of non-penetrative than penetrative sexual activity involving animals.
Bill C-84 amends the Criminal Code to broaden the scope of three criminal offences related to bestiality and animal fighting. It defines "bestiality" and adds new animal prohibition and restitution court order provisions. The amendment addresses gaps in the law by ensuring that any sexual contact with animals is criminalised, regardless of whether it involves penetration or not. This helps to protect both children and animals from sexual abuse and exploitation.
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The amendment broadens the scope of three criminal offences
In Canada, Bill C-84, an Act to amend the Criminal Code, broadens the scope of three criminal offences to prohibit certain activities related to bestiality and animal fighting. The bill was introduced in the House of Commons by the then Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Jody Wilson-Raybould, on 18 October 2018. It received its second reading and was referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights on 29 October 2018. The committee made amendments to the bill, which were adopted by the House of Commons on 8 May 2019.
The bill amends the Criminal Code to define "bestiality" and adds new animal prohibition and restitution court order provisions. This amendment is designed to address gaps in the law by criminalizing any contact for a sexual purpose between a person and an animal. For instance, in the D.L.W. case, a stepfather was convicted of numerous sexual offences for acts he committed against his stepdaughters, including forcing them to perform non-penetrative acts with the family dog for a sexual purpose. However, he was acquitted of bestiality charges because the existing law only criminalized bestiality involving penetration.
- Committing or compelling a person to commit bestiality: This offence captures situations where an individual engages in sexual activity with an animal or forces another person to do so.
- Committing bestiality in the presence of a child: This offence addresses the impact of witnessing bestiality on a child's psychological and emotional well-being.
- Inciting a child to commit bestiality: This offence recognizes the vulnerability of children and seeks to protect them from being coerced or manipulated into engaging in sexual acts with animals.
- Animal fighting: This offence prohibits organizing or participating in events where animals are forced to fight, recognizing the inherent cruelty and suffering inflicted on the animals involved.
By broadening the scope of these offences, Bill C-84 seeks to provide better protection for both human and animal victims of abuse and to close loopholes in the law that previously allowed for non-penetrative bestiality or bestiality without violence to go unpunished. The bill also underscores the importance of recognizing the link between animal abuse and other serious crimes, as well as the need for comprehensive data and research on the issue of bestiality to inform policy and legislative decisions.
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The Canadian Centre for Child Protection Inc. published a report on bestiality in Canadian case law
In December 2018, the Canadian Centre for Child Protection Inc. published a report titled "Bestiality as reflected in Canadian case law: Considerations for protecting children and animals after R v DLW". The report examined the definition, scope, and prevalence of bestiality in Canadian case law. It highlighted the lack of information and reporting on bestiality, noting that most incidents likely go unreported to the police.
The report reviewed jurisprudence, data from Statistics Canada, and the centre's own research. It found that non-penetrative sexual activity involving animals was more common than penetrative acts. This finding supported the need to expand the criminal definition of bestiality. The report also noted that coerced sexual acts involving animals often occurred alongside other serious crimes against human victims.
The publication of the report came at a time when there were efforts to strengthen legal protections for children, vulnerable individuals, and animals in Canada. On October 18, 2018, the Government of Canada introduced Bill C-84, "An Act to amend the Criminal Code (bestiality and animal fighting)". The bill aimed to broaden the scope of criminal offences related to bestiality and animal fighting. It sought to address gaps in the law by criminalizing any sexual contact between a person and an animal.
Bill C-84 received Royal Assent on June 21, 2019, and amended the Criminal Code to define "bestiality" and include new animal protection provisions. This legislative development was a response to cases like R v DLW, where a stepfather was acquitted of bestiality charges because the existing law required sexual penetration for a bestiality conviction. The new legislation ensured that any sexual contact with an animal for a sexual purpose would be criminalized.
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The report found there was little information on bestiality and that most incidents would not be reported
In 2018, the Canadian Centre for Child Protection Inc. published a report titled "Bestiality as Reflected in Canadian Case Law: Considerations for Protecting Children and Animals after R v DLW". This report examined the definition, scope, and prevalence of bestiality in Canada. One of the key findings of the report was that there is "little information about the issue of bestiality overall". The report also emphasized that most incidents of bestiality are likely to go unreported to the police.
The report's assessment of the limited information on bestiality is concerning and highlights the need for more comprehensive research and data on this topic. Despite the lack of extensive data, the report still provided valuable insights into the nature and extent of bestiality in Canada. By reviewing jurisprudence, data from Statistics Canada, and its own research, the report contributed to a better understanding of this issue.
One of the key insights from the report is the finding that non-penetrative sexual activity involving animals is more common than penetrative sexual activity. This discovery underscores the importance of expanding the criminal definition of bestiality to include a broader range of behaviours. By doing so, the law can more effectively address and prosecute these abhorrent acts.
Furthermore, the report also revealed a disturbing connection between coerced sexual acts involving animals and other serious forms of abuse involving human victims. This finding emphasizes the complex and multifaceted nature of bestiality, which often coincides with other heinous crimes. As a result, it becomes crucial to recognize and address the interconnectedness of these issues when formulating policies and interventions.
The report's findings have significant implications for policy and legislation in Canada. By acknowledging the gaps in knowledge and the underreporting of incidents, lawmakers can take a more proactive approach to addressing bestiality. This includes strengthening laws related to bestiality and animal fighting, improving reporting mechanisms, and increasing public awareness to encourage reporting and support victims.
Overall, the Canadian Centre for Child Protection Inc.'s report sheds light on the hidden nature of bestiality and the need for a more comprehensive response. By recognizing the limitations of the current data and the potential scope of the problem, Canada can continue to strengthen its laws and protect both children and animals from these abhorrent acts.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Canada passed bestiality laws with the passing of Bill C-84, which amends the Criminal Code to broaden the scope of three criminal offences related to bestiality and animal fighting.
The purpose of Bill C-84 is to address gaps in the law by criminalizing any contact for a sexual purpose between a person and an animal, as well as to prohibit certain activities related to animal fighting.
Bill C-84 was introduced in the House of Commons on October 18, 2018, and received Royal Assent on June 21, 2019.
Bill C-84 amends the Criminal Code to define "bestiality", adds new animal prohibition and restitution court order provisions, and broadens the definition of bestiality to include non-penetrative sexual acts involving animals.
