Bill C-255 Mischief Religious Property

Bill Type: Private Member’s Bill

Status: Introduced — November 6, 2025. This Bill hasn't passed yet.

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WHO GAINS POWER

Courts gain mandatory minimum sentencing authority for mischief against religious property — judges lose discretion on first, second and subsequent offences
Religious property owners gain a guaranteed minimum compensation of $1,000 per offence

WHO LOSES POWER

Judges lose sentencing discretion — mandatory minimums apply regardless of circumstances
Anyone who commits mischief against a church, mosque, synagogue, temple, associated religious objects or a cemetery faces mandatory compensation and escalating imprisonment

WHO GAINS MONEY

Religious property owners receive a mandatory minimum $1,000 compensation on conviction — first offence and every offence after

WHO LOSES MONEY

Convicted offenders pay mandatory minimum $1,000 compensation regardless of the extent of damage

THE CATCH

⚠️ "Primarily used for religious worship" is not defined — a community hall attached to a church, a cultural centre used occasionally for prayer, or a multi-faith space could fall in or out of scope depending on interpretation
⚠️ "Object associated with religious worship" is not defined — scope is broad and undefined, potentially capturing items well beyond the obvious
⚠️ Mandatory minimums have a constitutional track record — the Supreme Court of Canada has struck down mandatory minimums that produce grossly disproportionate sentences. This Bill's minimums may face Charter challenges
⚠️ Cemeteries are included but not limited to religious cemeteries — the Bill says "a cemetery" without qualification, which may be broader than intended
⚠️ The $1,000 minimum compensation applies regardless of actual damage — a minor act of mischief causing $50 in damage triggers the same minimum as one causing $5,000

Source: Bill C-255, House of Commons of Canada

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