Introducing my Private Member's Bill, Bill C-240

act. The bill seeks to address one of the most urgent and heartbreaking crises facing Canadian families: the devastating impact of substance addiction. Canadians see the toll: lives are lost; families are shattered; and public safety is eroded. Our justice system must do more than punish. It must also heal. The bill would empower courts to prescribe structured rehabilitation measures, including education, skills training and treatment programs, to be undertaken during custody. These are not soft-on-crime measures. They are smart-on-recovery interventions. The bill would strength the Corrections and Conditional Release Act to ensure that rehabilitation objectives are considered during parole decisions, and it would amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act to treat large-scale fentanyl trafficking as an aggravating factor, reflecting the gravity of the harm inflicted in our communities. I look forward to working with all members of the House to restore dignity, health and hope to those caught in the cycle of addiction. (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

ion. Conservatives will keep fighting to put families and Canadians first.

ibe structured rehabilitation programs for individuals whose offences stem from circumstances that can be addressed through skill development, education and recovery as part of a holistic healing process. “Our justice system must do more than punish - it must also heal,” said MP DeRidder. “Bill C-240 empowers courts to prescribe structured rehabilitation measures, including education, skills training, and treatment programs, to be undertaken during custody. These are not soft-on-crime measures; they are smart-on-recovery interventions.” If passed, this legislation will: Allow court-ordered rehabilitation measures for offenders: The bill allows courts to order additional rehabilitative measures during an offender’s custodial sentence, such as participation in educational, training, or treatment programs. Permit stricter penalties for fentanyl traffickers: The bill introduces an aggravating factor in sentencing for individuals convicted of trafficking fentanyl in large quantities, leading to stricter penalties. Include rehabilitation progress in parole decisions: The bill further requires parole boards to consider an offender's progress in completing court-ordered rehabilitation programs when making parole decisions. “Bill C-240 strengthens the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, ensuring that rehabilitation objectives are considered during parole decisions. It amends the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act to treat large-scale fentanyl trafficking as an aggravating factor, reflecting the gravity of the harm inflicted on our communities,” DeRidder concluded. “By integrating public health principles into our justice system, we can reduce recidivism, enhance community safety, and break the cycle of harm."