MP Mel Arnold presenting his Private Members Bill with Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre (Submitted photo/Mel Arnold)

By Liam Verster

Disclosure of Information to Victims

MP Arnold introduces bill to inform victims of court proceedings, release of offenders

Sep 19, 2025 | 11:41 AM

The Member of Parliament who previously represented the North Okanagan has introduced an amendment to the Corrections and Conditional Release Act.

Mel Arnold, the former Conservative MP for North Okanagan – Shuswap and current representative for Kamloops – Shuswap – Central Rockies, tabled his Private Members Bill in the House of Commons Wednesday, Sept. 17.

Arnold’s Bill C-221 would amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (disclosure of information to victims) to inform the victim of an offence about:

• Eligibility and review dates in respect of temporary absences or parole
• The date, if any, on which the offender will be released on temporary absence, work release, parole, or statutory release
• Eligibility and review dates in respect to unescorted temporary absences or parole
• The date, if any, for when the offender will be released on unescorted temporary absence, escorted temporary absence of the Board has approved the absence
• The amendments also call for the victim to be informed on the decision process for any of these matters.

Additionally, the amendments call for the victim to be contacted and provided with information on how the dates were determined for releasing an offender on any of the aforementioned conditions.

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The bill was given first reading Wednesday. There were no dates set for second reading as of time of publication.

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