Changes to sentences in Bill C-16

Bill C-16 received Royal Assent and became law on June 18, 2026.

Backgrounder

The Protecting Victims Act made changes to increase the maximum penalties of imprisonment for several offences in the Criminal Code.

A maximum penalty is the highest sentence of imprisonment that can be imposed for an offence. It is an important tool that Parliament has at its disposal to demonstrate the seriousness of the offence.

Offence Type Previous maximum penalty Maximum penalty under new law
Non-consensual distribution of intimate images Indictment 5 years 10 years
Voyeurism Indictment 5 years 10 years
Sexual assault Summary conviction 18 months 2 years less a day
Exposure Summary conviction 6 months 2 years less a day
Exposure Indictment 2 years 10 years
Obtaining sexual services of a person under the age of 18 Indictment 10 years 14 years

The legislation also created new offences in the Criminal Code.

New offence Maximum penalty under new law
Coercive control of intimate partner 10 years (on indictment)
Distributing of bestiality depictions 5 years (on indictment)
Youth recruitment into criminality 5 years (on indictment)
Threatening to distribute child sexual abuse and exploitation material 10 years (on indictment)
Threatening to distribute non-consensual intimate images, including sexual deepfakes 10 years (on indictment)

Glossary of terms

Indictment
Formal written accusation initiating a criminal proceeding for serious (indictable) offences, usually in a superior court. Indictments allow for more complex trials, sometimes with a jury.
Summary conviction
Court process for less serious criminal offences, usually without a jury. These offences carry lighter penalties, typically up to a $5,000 fine or two years less a day in jail.