S-240 — An Act to amend the Criminal Code (declaration of exception pursuant to subsection 33(1) of the Charter for mandatory minimum sentences for child sexual abuse and exploitation material offences)

What it does

AI plain-language summary of the official text.

Senate Public Bill S-240 seeks to amend the Criminal Code to invoke the notwithstanding clause (subsection 33(1) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms) in order to preserve mandatory minimum sentences for offences related to child sexual abuse and exploitation material. By using a declaration of exception, the bill aims to shield these mandatory minimums from Charter challenges that have invalidated similar provisions in other contexts. The bill was introduced in the Senate with first reading on November 5, 2025, and is currently at second reading.

Passage outlook

Unlikely to pass because it's a Senate public bill (which rarely passes), it's at an early stage.

Adjusted for this bill's current pace: 5–20% (the unadjusted historical base rate for comparable federal bills is 19%). It has gone quiet at this stage; the adjustment for that delay still leaves the historical rate inside the range.

A transparent, rule-based outlook from bill type, stage, and verified government standing — not a guaranteed prediction.