Canadian MPs had voted on Bill C-225 today, better known as Bailey’s law, and it had passed with unanimous support within the House of Commons.
Introduced by MP for Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, Frank Caputo, in the aftermath of the murder of Bailey McCourt by her estranged husband, James Plover, in July of 2025, the bill sought to make intimate partner homicide an automatic charge of first-degree murder while also requiring a judicial release hearing for those arrested for intimate partner offenses within the past five years, prior to their release.
At the time of McCourt’s murder, Plover was on bail. He had just been convicted of past intimate partner offences in a separate case and was awaiting his sentencing for that matter.
Bailey’s Law was widely supported by the Conservative Party, with Skeena Bulkley-Valley MP Ellis Ross noting on Facebook shortly after its passing that he considered it a bittersweet victory, adding that his thoughts are with Bailey’s family. Ross said he’s hopeful the new law will help others in similar situations.
MP Ross also said it was among the most emotional votes he’s ever taken part in, adding that he’s heard from his constituents in the Skeena-Bulkley Valley time and again about a lack of action in the courts on intimate partner violence, as well as with violent repeat offenders, and the devastating impacts it has on families.
He confirmed that Bailey McCourt’s family was in the parliamentary galley as the vote was taking place, but that none of the MPs had known. In a live video on Facebook, Ross was nearly lost for words as he reflected on the moment the vote was cast, with MPs of all parties proudly standing up to support in – when just minutes before he was unsure it had the support to pass at all.
Ross adds, it’s rare for a conservative’s private member bill to pass with such support
Comments