Fact Sheet
Bill C-95 — National Anti-Gang Measures

Criminal gang activity is increasing in Canada, and now represents a threat to public safety in many communities. On April 17, 1997, the federal government introduced Bill C-95, a package of anti-gang measures that target criminal gang activity. The measures are the government's first step in developing an integrated plan to combat this growing type of crime. The plan involves police, other enforcement agencies and all levels of government.

Highlights of the package include:

• "Participation in a criminal organization" offence: The cornerstone of the package, this measure makes it an indictable offence for a person to participate in or substantially contribute to the activities of a criminal organization, knowing that any or all of its members engage in or have engaged in a series of indictable offences within the proceeding five years and if that person is a party to the commission of an indictable offence for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with the criminal organization.

  This offence is punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

• A new peace bond designed to target gang leadership and make it difficult for criminal organizations to carry out their criminal activities;
• New powers that allow police to seize the proceeds of organized crime activity and, with a judge's order, to access income tax information related to gang activity;
• New Criminal Code offences and penalties that target the use of explosives in criminal gang activity;
• New sentencing provisions in the Criminal Code aimed at gangs, including delaying parole eligibility for certain criminal organization offences;
• Measures to support police surveillance of gang activity; and
• New national and regional coordinating committees that will provide leadership and coordination of multi-agency enforcement operations.

The measures are the result of broad consultations with provincial and municipal officials as well as law enforcement agencies across Canada.

Department of Justice
May 1997