An Act to amend the Criminal Code (arson — wildfires and places of worship)

Bill C-411 was a Conservative Private Member's Bill amending the Criminal Code (R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46) to expand the offence of arson to include wildfires and places of worship as aggravating circumstances. Brought after the 2023 wildfire season (the worst on record at 18.5 million hectares burned per Natural Resources Canada, with approximately 700 wildfires under investigation for suspected arson per RCMP data), and after multiple high-profile church arson incidents in 2021-2024 (over 80 Catholic churches burned or vandalized following the 2021 unmarked-graves discoveries). The bill would have added section 433.2 to the Criminal Code creating a specific offence of wildfire-arson with maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Did not pass second reading.