Capital punishment in Canada

Execution_of_Stanislaus_Lacroix_in_Hull,_Quebec,_Canada_1902

Capital punishment in Canada refers to the legal process where a person is put to death by the state as a punishment for a crime. The practice has a complex history and has undergone significant changes over the years.

History

Capital punishment was a part of the Canadian legal system since the country's formation in 1867. The Criminal Code of Canada initially included provisions for the death penalty for crimes such as murder, treason, and rape.

Early Years

In the early years, executions were carried out by hanging. The first recorded execution in Canada was that of Peter Cartcel in 1749 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The use of capital punishment was relatively common in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Reforms and Abolition

The movement to abolish capital punishment gained momentum in the mid-20th century. In 1961, the Criminal Code of Canada was amended to classify murder into capital and non-capital offenses. Capital murder included planned and deliberate murder, murder of a police officer or prison guard, and murder committed during certain violent crimes.

In 1967, a moratorium on the death penalty for murder was introduced, and in 1976, capital punishment for murder was formally abolished by the Parliament of Canada. The last execution in Canada took place in 1962, when Arthur Lucas and Ronald Turpin were hanged at the Don Jail in Toronto.

Post-Abolition Period

Although capital punishment for murder was abolished, it remained a possible sentence for certain military offenses under the National Defence Act until 1998, when it was completely removed from Canadian law.

Current Status

Today, capital punishment is not practiced in Canada. The country is a signatory to several international treaties that prohibit the death penalty, including the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Public Opinion

Public opinion on capital punishment in Canada has varied over the years. While there was significant support for the death penalty in the past, recent surveys indicate that a majority of Canadians now oppose its reinstatement.

Related Pages

• Criminal Code of Canada
• Parliament of Canada
• National Defence Act
• Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
• Don Jail
• Halifax, Nova Scotia
• Toronto

See Also

• Human rights in Canada
• Judicial system of Canada
• History of Canada