Judges across Canada must now treat violence against first responders; paramedics, firefighters and police officers as an aggravating factor when handing down sentences.
The change took effect last month shortly after Bill C-14, the Bail and Sentencing Reform Act, received royal assent on June 15, 2026. The legislation adds more than 80 changes to the Criminal Code.
Among them, courts must now consider whether a victim was an on-duty firefighter, paramedic, police officer or other first responder when someone is convicted of offences such as assault, uttering threats or obstruction committed against them in the line of duty.
The Saskatoon Paramedic Association marked the milestone recently, crediting years of advocacy for the change. The organization pointed to former president Paul Hills and Conservative MP Todd Doherty for helping push the amendment through.
The provision has a complicated legislative history. It began as a private member’s bill, C-321, which died when Parliament was prorogued. The initiative was then reintroduced as Bill S-233. While that bill continues to work through the Senate, its key first responder provisions were folded into the broader C-14 package, ensuring they became law without waiting on S-233’s own progress.
The International Association of Fire Fighters campaigned for the change for years, citing a rising number of violent incidents. An IAFF survey of 117 affiliates found 13 per cent reported at least one act of violence at structure fires within the past five years, while that figure jumped to 40 per cent for medical calls.
“As fire fighters, we show up on someone’s worst day,” said IAFF General President Edward Kelly.
The change carries particular weight for the Lloydminster region, where paramedics on the Saskatchewan side operate under the Saskatchewan Health Authority. Lloydminster Hospital and its EMS crews fall under Saskatchewan’s justice system, meaning the new sentencing rule applies directly to calls in the city’s Saskatchewan half.
Bill C-14 also creates new aggravating factors for crimes against public transit workers, organized retail theft and offences that damage essential infrastructure such as power or water systems. Advocates say the change is a welcome step but only one piece of improving day to day conditions for emergency workers.
First responder groups say the real test will be whether the change reduces violence, or simply documents it more thoroughly after the fact.
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Corrections officers should have the same protections and access to post-incident debriefing, mental wellness leave and counseling. They are often first responders to gruesome incidents yet have fewer resources available to ensure their long term mental wellness.
This needs to be expanded to include nursing staff and Dr’s in ER and hospital environments. EMS rolling in and dropping violent, unruly persons into the care of staff that is not trained to handle them, nor do they have resources nor physical restraints to subdue the same puts these staff in a dangerous situation with 0 help.