MP Viviane Lapointe Introduces Private Member’s Bill to Ensure Criminals Pay Restitution to Communities Harmed by Drug and Human Trafficking

OTTAWA, ON – Today, Viviane Lapointe, Member of Parliament for Sudbury, introduced her first Private Member’s Bill in the House of Commons. The Bill proposes amendments to the Criminal Code to expand restitution orders so that offenders convicted of drug and human trafficking crimes can be required to compensate community organizations providing critical frontline services.

Crimes linked to organized drug activity and human trafficking create far reaching and devastating impacts. Emergency shelters, addiction treatment providers, harm reduction programs, and victim support services are left to carry heavy financial and operational burdens. Lapointe’s Bill ensures that, where appropriate, judges have the ability to order offenders to pay restitution directly to these community organizations.

If adopted, the legislation could allow restitution for expenses such as:

• Emergency shelter and medical services, including overdose reversal supplies,

• Harm reduction programs, including overdose and infectious disease prevention,

• Security services and protective equipment,

• Counselling and mental health supports for frontline workers, and

• Increased operational costs, including staff and training to meet rising demand.

By directing restitution to organizations on the front lines, the legislation helps reinvest seized assets into community resilience, without further burdening taxpayers.

“Across Canada, and here in Sudbury, frontline workers are keeping people alive and giving them a chance to rebuild their lives,” Lapointe added. “This legislation gives judges the tools to make criminals pay for the harm they’ve caused and to help communities heal.”

The Bill now stands for second reading in the House of Commons, where MPs will have the opportunity to debate and vote on this important step forward in strengthening community supports against drug and human trafficking.

“This Bill is about delivering justice with purpose,” said MP Lapointe. “Communities like Sudbury continue to bear the brunt of the opioid crisis and organized crime. Every day, I hear from frontline organizations in our city that are stretched to their limits, providing life saving services to victims of addiction and human trafficking. Those who profit from these crimes must be held accountable, to both the direct victims and their families, and also to the communities that provide these vital supports.” -Viviane Lapointe, Member of Parliament Sudbury

"The Go-Give Project strongly supports the proposed amendments to the Criminal Code that would allow judges to order restitution to community agencies providing front-line services in response to drug trafficking and human trafficking offences. These crimes place enormous strain on organizations like ours, and this measure represents an important acknowledgment of the critical role community-based services play in addressing the harms caused. Restitution directed to front-line agencies translates directly into stronger victim support, enhanced emergency responses, and healthier, more resilient communities.” – Evie Ali, Executive Director, the Go-Give Project