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A rare private member’s bill with all-party support would make killing an intimate partner automatic first-degree murder and give courts new tools to assess risk before bail.
Bill C-225, known as Bailey’s Law, is a Conservative private member’s bill that would make the killing of an intimate partner an automatic first-degree murder charge, create distinct Criminal Code offences for intimate partner assault, and empower courts to order risk assessments before granting bail in domestic violence cases. Named after Kelowna victim Bailey McCourt, the bill passed second reading with a standing ovation and cleared committee with minor amendments.
Bill C-225, known as Bailey’s Law, is a private member’s bill introduced by Conservative MP Tracy Gray. It is named after Bailey McCourt, a young woman from Kelowna, British Columbia, who was killed by a former intimate partner in 2020.
The bill proposes several amendments to the Criminal Code aimed at strengthening the legal response to intimate partner violence. It is one of the rare private member’s bills to receive all-party support and advance through the legislative process.
Bailey’s Law contains four main provisions:
First, it would make the killing of an intimate partner automatic first-degree murder. Currently, a murder must be planned and deliberate to be classified as first degree, unless it falls under specific exceptions. This change would add intimate partner homicide to those exceptions, carrying a mandatory life sentence with no parole eligibility for 25 years.
Second, the bill creates distinct Criminal Code offences for intimate partner assault and intimate partner criminal harassment (stalking). These would carry higher maximum sentences than the general assault provisions.
Third, courts would be empowered to order a risk assessment of up to seven days for individuals charged with domestic assault, if there are indicators of escalating danger. This is designed to give police and courts a window to evaluate risk before a bail decision.
Fourth, the bill would change bail rules for individuals with a previous domestic violence conviction, creating a reverse onus requiring them to show why they should be released.
Bailey’s Law passed second reading in the House of Commons with a standing ovation — an unusual show of cross-party support. All parties indicated their backing for the bill.
The bill then went to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights for detailed study. The committee heard from victims’ advocates, legal experts, and law enforcement before passing the bill with only minor technical amendments.
Bill C-225 now returns to the House for report stage and third reading. As the first private member’s bill to reach this stage in the current Parliament, its progress is being closely watched.
Private member’s bills face significant procedural hurdles in Canada’s Parliament. Only a limited number receive debate time each session, determined by a random draw. Even bills that receive debate often stall because the government controls the legislative calendar.
Of the hundreds of private member’s bills introduced each Parliament, only a small fraction become law. The bills that succeed typically have cross-party support and address issues where there is broad public consensus.
Bailey’s Law benefits from both: the issue of intimate partner violence commands wide public support, and the bill’s sponsors have worked across party lines to build consensus.
The House will debate Bill C-225 at report stage, where MPs can propose amendments. If it passes report stage, it moves to a third reading vote. If it passes third reading, it goes to the Senate.
The government has indicated it supports the bill and will not block its progress. However, the legislative calendar is crowded, and private member’s bills must compete for limited floor time with government legislation.
Parliament Audit will publish the recorded vote at third reading when it occurs.
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About this article
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<h1>Bailey’s Law Heads to Third Reading: What Bill C-225 Would Change About Domestic Violence Sentencing</h1>
<p><em>By Parliament Audit · April 16, 2026 · 5 min read</em></p>
<p><strong>Bill C-225, known as Bailey’s Law, is a Conservative private member’s bill that would make the killing of an intimate partner an automatic first-degree murder charge, create distinct Criminal Code offences for intimate partner assault, and empower courts to order risk assessments before granting bail in domestic violence cases. Named after Kelowna victim Bailey McCourt, the bill passed second reading with a standing ovation and cleared committee with minor amendments.</strong></p>
<h2>What Is Bailey’s Law?</h2>
<p>Bill C-225, known as Bailey’s Law, is a private member’s bill introduced by Conservative MP Tracy Gray. It is named after Bailey McCourt, a young woman from Kelowna, British Columbia, who was killed by a former intimate partner in 2020.</p>
<p>The bill proposes several amendments to the Criminal Code aimed at strengthening the legal response to intimate partner violence. It is one of the rare private member’s bills to receive all-party support and advance through the legislative process.</p>
<h2>What the Bill Would Change</h2>
<p>Bailey’s Law contains four main provisions:</p>
<p>First, it would make the killing of an intimate partner automatic first-degree murder. Currently, a murder must be planned and deliberate to be classified as first degree, unless it falls under specific exceptions. This change would add intimate partner homicide to those exceptions, carrying a mandatory life sentence with no parole eligibility for 25 years.</p>
<p>Second, the bill creates distinct Criminal Code offences for intimate partner assault and intimate partner criminal harassment (stalking). These would carry higher maximum sentences than the general assault provisions.</p>
<p>Third, courts would be empowered to order a risk assessment of up to seven days for individuals charged with domestic assault, if there are indicators of escalating danger. This is designed to give police and courts a window to evaluate risk before a bail decision.</p>
<p>Fourth, the bill would change bail rules for individuals with a previous domestic violence conviction, creating a reverse onus requiring them to show why they should be released.</p>
<h2>The Parliamentary Path</h2>
<p>Bailey’s Law passed second reading in the House of Commons with a standing ovation — an unusual show of cross-party support. All parties indicated their backing for the bill.</p>
<p>The bill then went to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights for detailed study. The committee heard from victims’ advocates, legal experts, and law enforcement before passing the bill with only minor technical amendments.</p>
<p>Bill C-225 now returns to the House for report stage and third reading. As the first private member’s bill to reach this stage in the current Parliament, its progress is being closely watched.</p>
<h2>Why Private Member’s Bills Rarely Pass</h2>
<p>Private member’s bills face significant procedural hurdles in Canada’s Parliament. Only a limited number receive debate time each session, determined by a random draw. Even bills that receive debate often stall because the government controls the legislative calendar.</p>
<p>Of the hundreds of private member’s bills introduced each Parliament, only a small fraction become law. The bills that succeed typically have cross-party support and address issues where there is broad public consensus.</p>
<p>Bailey’s Law benefits from both: the issue of intimate partner violence commands wide public support, and the bill’s sponsors have worked across party lines to build consensus.</p>
<h2>What Happens Next</h2>
<p>The House will debate Bill C-225 at report stage, where MPs can propose amendments. If it passes report stage, it moves to a third reading vote. If it passes third reading, it goes to the Senate.</p>
<p>The government has indicated it supports the bill and will not block its progress. However, the legislative calendar is crowded, and private member’s bills must compete for limited floor time with government legislation.</p>
<p>Parliament Audit will publish the recorded vote at third reading when it occurs.</p>
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Originally published by <a href="https://parliamentaudit.ca/news/bill-c225-baileys-law-intimate-partner-violence">Parliament Audit</a>
under the <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">CC BY-ND 4.0</a> license.
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