THE MIGRATION - TRIBUNAL - Bill S-233: An Act to amend the Criminal Code (assault against persons who provide health services and first responders)
The Proposal: Punishing Symptoms, Not Causes
Bill S-233, introduced by Senator Housakos in the Senate on September 23, 2025, proposes to amend the Criminal Code to make assault against healthcare workers and first responders an aggravating factor during sentencing. The bill's preamble acknowledges that violence against these essential workers is escalating and that they "deserve to feel protected and valued by the justice system."