Registration

SI/2008-34 April 2, 2008

TACKLING VIOLENT CRIME ACT

Order Fixing May 1, 2008 and July 2, 2008 as the Dates of the Coming into Force of Certain Sections of the Act

P.C. 2008-582 March 11, 2008

Her Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of Justice, pursuant to section 64 of the Tackling Violent Crime Act, chapter 6 of the Statutes of Canada, 2008, hereby fixes

(a) May 1, 2008 as the day on which sections 1 to 17, 28 to 38, 54, 57 and 58 of that Act come into force; and

(b) July 2, 2008 as the day on which sections 18 to 27, 39 to 53, 55, 56, 59 and 60 of that Act come into force.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order.)

The Order fixes May 1, 2008 as the day on which sections 1 to 17, 28 to 38, 54, 57 and 58 of the Tackling Violent Crime Act (“the Act”) and July 2, 2008 as the day on which sections 18 to 27, 39 to 53, 55, 56, 59 and 60 of the Act come into force.

The Act amends the Criminal Code by:

(a) creating two new firearm offences and providing escalating mandatory sentences of imprisonment for serious firearm offences (coming into force on May 1, 2008);

(b) strengthening the bail provisions for those accused of serious offences involving firearms and other regulated weapons (coming into force on May 1, 2008);

(c) providing for more effective sentencing and monitoring of dangerous and high-risk offenders (coming into force on July 2, 2008);

(d) introducing a new regime for the detection and investigation of drug impaired driving and strengthening the penalties for impaired driving (coming into force on July 2, 2008); and

(e) raising the age of consent for sexual activity from 14 to 16 years (coming into force on May 1, 2008).