Lapointe’s Bill on Criminal Restitution Passes Second Reading, Moves to Committee Study

OTTAWA - Sudbury MP Viviane Lapointe’s Private Member’s Bill C-238 passed a major hurdle on Wednesday when a majority of MPs voted in favour of the Bill. The successful vote means the Bill has passed second reading in the House of Commons and will now proceed to committee for further study.

First introduced in September 2025, the bill proposes targeted amendments to the Criminal Code to expand restitution orders so that offenders convicted of drug trafficking and human trafficking offences can be required to compensate community organizations delivering frontline support.

“Community organizations absorb the cost of crime every single day, with limited resources and little recognition within the justice system,” said Lapointe. “This bill makes it clear that when these organizations can demonstrate direct, measurable costs, they should be eligible for restitution.”

Bill C-238 is intended to better reflect the real impacts of crime on communities, particularly the burden placed on local service providers supporting victims of trafficking and addiction. In communities like Sudbury, organizations working on the front lines of the opioid crisis are often stretched thin while responding to increasingly complex needs.

The bill passed with support from Liberal, New Democratic, and Green Members of Parliament. Conservative Members, including Sudbury East—Manitoulin—Nickel Belt MP Jim Bélanger, voted against the legislation.

“As this bill moves to committee, members of parliament will hear directly from the organizations doing this work on the ground,” Lapointe added. “They will have the opportunity to share their experiences and help shape a system that recognizes the role they play in supporting victims and strengthening our communities.”

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