OTTAWA — The federal government will adopt changes to its criminal justice legislation, Bill C-75, that will require judges to consider harsher sentences in cases of violence against Indigenous women, according to a motion from Justice Minister David Lametti. Lametti told reporters on Monday that the changes to the bill are “in the spirit of the inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls,” which made several recommendations for changes to the Criminal Code aimed at applying stiffer penalties to those who commit crimes against Indigenous women. Dyck proposed two amendments to Bill C-75 that could lead to harsher sentences in cases of violence against Indigenous women. In a statement, a justice department spokesperson said the changes “seek to ensure that sentencing judges take into account (i.e. The original bill only allowed them for the 70 Criminal Code offences carrying a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Source: National Post June 17, 2019 22:56 UTC