Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo MP Frank Caputo introducing Bill C-299 in the House of Commons Tuesday. (Image Credit: House of Commons)

By James Peters

House of Commons

Kamloops MP introduces bill to raise maximum penalties for most sexual offences to life in prison

Oct 4, 2022 | 10:32 AM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo MP Frank Caputo has launched another attempt to toughen Canadian law against sexual offences.

Tuesday morning (Oct. 4) in the House of Commons, Caputo introduced a bill that, if passed, would increase maximum penalties for most sexual offence convictions to life imprisonment.

In bringing Bill C-299 forward, Caputo noted the maximum sentence for robbery is already life imprisonment, meaning Canadian law treats the taking of property by force more seriously than the taking of consent and dignity by force.

“Sexual offences in Canada are not treated with the seriousness that they deserve,” said Caputo in a news release. “We need to change the way sexual offences, especially those against children, are prosecuted and thought about.”

Earlier this year, Caputo and North Okanagan-Shuswap MP Mel Arnold brought forward another private member’s bill, proposing the name of ‘child pornography’ be changed to ‘child sexual abuse material’ in Canadian law.

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: Culturally appropriate food goes beyond the ingredients on a plate

9h ago

Two and Out

PETERS: Whether building up or tearing down, Kamloops is what you make it

Dec 13, 2024

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: How to reduce food waste in Kamloops during the festive season

Dec 13, 2024

He says the efforts stem from his career as a prosecutor.

“In my time as a Crown Prosecutor, I often worked directly with victims of sexual violence and saw firsthand the devastation that sexual violence can cause,” said Caputo. “Only recently have we learned the true extent of the impact of sexual violence on a person, especially when the victim is a child. This change to increase maximum sentences to life imprisonment will clearly demonstrate to victims that the government understands the seriousness of the offence and will allow perpetrators to be punished accordingly.”