Federal Bill on Sexual Assault Training for Judges

The Canadian government has introduced Bill C-5 that would require federally-appointed judges to undergo sensitivity training to learn about myths and stereotypes in sexual assault cases.

If passed, the legislation would also require the Canadian Judicial Council, which has authority over the work of federally-appointed judges and is chaired by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, to set up and report on the training program.

It would also amend the Criminal Code to make sure judges provide written reasons when they rule on sexual assault cases.

It is possible to follow the progress of the bill on the LEGISinfo website.

Justice Canada has provided some background on the issue.

An earlier proposal from the last session of Parliament, known as Bill C-337, died in the Senate before the 2019 federal elections.

News coverage:

• Aiming for all-party support, Liberals table bill on judges' sexual assault training first introduced by Rona Ambrose (National Post, February 4, 2020)
• Government introduces ‘necessary’ legislation on sexual assault training for judges (iPolitics, February 4, 2020)
• Liberals table legislation ‘consistent’ with Rona Ambrose’s bill requiring sexual-assault education for judges (Globe and Mail, February 4, 2020)
• Proposed bill on sexual assault awareness training for judges 'above politics,' Ambrose says (CBC, February 4, 2020)