House of Commons Approves Bill C-225 Amending Criminal Code on Intimate Partner Violence

Bill C-225, also known as Bailey’s Law, passed third reading in the House of Commons on Monday, advancing proposed amendments to the Criminal Code on intimate partner violence offenses. The bill honors the memory of Bailey McCourt, a 32-year-old mother fatally attacked in a Kelowna parking lot last July. McCourt left behind two children.

Debbie Henderson, McCourt’s aunt, called the passage bittersweet, noting it eases some family burden amid ongoing grief.

James Plover, McCourt’s ex-husband, is charged with first-degree murder and is awaiting a trial date. Frank Caputo, the Conservative MP for Kamloops-Nicola-Thompson, introduced the private member’s bill last fall. The legislation includes changes to the Criminal Code, such as making murder in the context of coercive control first-degree murder and creating a unique offense for violence against an intimate partner.

The bill now goes to the Senate for further debate. Caputo explained that private members’ bills often go to the end of the line in Senate proceedings. Caputo urged supporters to contact senators to push for quick passage.