Advocates herald Ottawa’s push on femicide after years of calls for action

The federal government’s plan to name femicide in the Criminal Code and introduce measures to reduce violence against women is being lauded by advocates who have worked for years for stricter penalties for these crimes, and official recognition of their prevalence.

The proposals are contained in Bill C-16, tabled on Tuesday, which would make a wide range of changes to the Criminal Code. Among them is the introduction of several scenarios that would meet the definition of femicide, including murder of an intimate partner while motivated by hate based on sex and gender. The bill would classify femicide as first-degree murder, even if the killing is not planned and deliberate.