90th Day for Section 35 Comes Into Force

Summary#

This Order fixes the 90th day after the day the Order was made as the day when section 35 of An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Sex Offender Information Registration Act and the International Transfer of Offenders Act comes into force. The Order was made on October 9, 2026 and brings into force a change that will have courts share victims’ contact information with Correctional Service Canada (CSC) when victims say they want information under the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (CCRA).

What it does#

• Sets the coming-into-force date: the 90th day after the Order was made (the Order was made on October 9, 2026).
• Brings into force an amendment that requires courts to record whether a victim wants to receive information about an offender’s sentence and conditional release, and to transmit the victim’s name and contact details to Correctional Service Canada (CSC) if the victim asks.
• Lets CSC use that information to contact victims and offer them registration and the information they are entitled to under the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (CCRA).
• Keeps existing verification and privacy safeguards to make sure offender information is only shared with eligible recipients.
• Does not create a blanket right to automatic release information to victims; it makes it easier for victims who choose to receive information by ensuring courts pass along their contact details.

Who's affected#

• Victims who want to receive information about an offender’s incarceration or conditional release under the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (CCRA).
• Offenders who are serving federal sentences (those sentenced to two years or more) — because their cases involve Correctional Service Canada (CSC).
• Provincial and territorial courts and governments, since courts will need to collect and transmit victims’ contact details to CSC.
• Correctional Service Canada (CSC), which will be responsible for contacting and registering victims and providing the information they’re entitled to.

If it’s unclear: the Order applies when victims indicate to the court that they want information. It does not force contact on victims who do not want it.

Why it matters#

• It reduces the burden on victims by removing the need for them to find and contact CSC after sentencing to learn about an offender’s release plans.
• Victims are less likely to be surprised by an offender’s release because courts will pass on contact details to CSC, which will reach out proactively to those who opted in.
• The change is intended to be more trauma-informed and to support victims’ rights to information under the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights, while keeping privacy protections in place.
• For courts and provincial/territorial systems, it creates a new routine step to collect and transmit victim contact information so victims can be offered the information they request.