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S-223Royal assent received

Law to Stop People From Selling Human Organs

Stop Human Organ Trafficking

Introduced Dec 16, 2021·Last discussed Dec 15, 2022
Summary

This new law changes the rules about trafficking in human organs. It makes it illegal to buy, sell, or move human organs for profit. This means that anyone involved in taking organs from people without their consent, or paying people for their organs, could face criminal charges. This law affects everyone, but especially those who might be vulnerable to organ trafficking. It also affects people who might travel to other countries to get or give organs illegally. If someone is caught trafficking organs, they could go to jail in Canada. Also, people who have been involved in organ trafficking in other countries could be stopped from coming to Canada. This law matters because it helps protect people from being exploited for their organs. It sends a message that Canada does not support organ trafficking. It also helps to make sure that organ donations are done ethically and fairly.

Where This Lands on Key Issues

Where this proposed law falls on the policy spectrums that Canadians care about

ImmigrationLower immigration levels

By barring individuals involved in organ trafficking from entering Canada, the bill introduces a restriction on who can immigrate or visit, aligning it slightly towards reduced immigration.

Crime & Public SafetyTough on crime, longer sentences

The bill creates new criminal offenses related to organ trafficking and increases penalties for those involved, signaling a 'tough on crime' approach.

This bill
Bill Quality
Solid

This proposed law creates new crimes related to human organ trafficking, focusing on lack of informed consent and financial transactions. It also makes people inadmissible to Canada if they've engaged in organ trafficking.

Things to Watch For

  • It is not clear how 'reckless' will be defined in court.
  • The law depends on proving lack of informed consent, which can be hard to do across borders.
  • The law does not address the underlying reasons why organ trafficking exists.
  • The law does not define what constitutes 'consideration' when obtaining an organ.
  • It is not clear how this law will interact with existing laws about medical practices and consent.
Progress

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