Frank Caputo, MP for Kamloops–Thompson–Nicola, has put forward a private member’s bill to bolster the legal response to intimate partner violence.
Caputo, who is the Conservative Shadow Minister for Public Safety, said Bill C-225 would treat the murder of a current or former intimate partner as first-degree murder, regardless of whether it was planned or deliberate.
“Intimate partner violence is a unique evil. It turns the place where you should be the safest and most loved – your home – into a prison of repeated victimization,” Caputo said in a statement.
“Survivors often serve a psychological life sentence, and the children who witness this abuse are left traumatized.”
Intimate partner violence has been a major topic of discussion in BC since the brutal killing of Kelowna woman Bailey McCourt on July 4.
McCourt, a mother of two young children, was killed in a brutal daytime attack. Her ex-partner James Plover is charged with her murder, which came just hours after Plover was convicted in connection to a previous assault on McCourt.
After her tragic death, McCourt’s family penned a letter to both Premier David Eby and Prime Minister Mark Carney calling for change.
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Caputo’s bill, if passed, would create specific offences including Assault Intimate Partner and Criminal Harassment of Intimate Partner.
It would also force those convicted of a such an offence within the preceding five years to be released only by a judge, Caputo’s statement said.
The bill would also give the courts the power to detain people accused of intimate partner violence at any time for a risk assessment reviewed by a judge as well as modernizing the detention of seized evidence.
Caputo cited Statics Canada data, which said 60% of all violent crimes happen between intimate partners and that type of violence constitutes around one third of violent crimes reported to the police.
“IPV is vastly underreported despite being the most significant form of violence against women,” Caputo said. “Victims of IPV are often caught in a cycle of violence, punctuated by economic and emotional dependence.”
Caputo, who is a former parole officer and Crown prosecutor, said he has seen first-hand how the current laws on intimate partner violence are “grossly inadequate."
He said if the bill was passed it would protect victims, hold repeat offenders accountable and strengthen the justice system’s response to intimate partner violence.
Proud to stand with these incredible women from our caucus in support of Bill C-225.
— Frank Caputo (@FrankCaputoKTN) September 18, 2025
A vital step in addressing intimate partner violence and driving meaningful change in Canadian history pic.twitter.com/UR8QTOPBNK
Caputo said he has the support of his conservative colleagues. That also includes BC MLAs.
In a separate statement, Conservative Official Opposition Leader John Rustad and Kelowna Centre MLA Kristina Loewen both endorsed the federal bill.
Rustad said the bill would restore accountability and is a vital step toward fixing system failures.
“In BC, we’ve seen preventable tragedies like the murder of Bailey McCourt in Kelowna, where the system ignored repeated warnings until it was too late,” said Rustad.
“This federal bill is a vital step toward fixing those failures and putting victims’ safety ahead of offenders’ convenience.”
Loewen said too many women in BC have been failed by the justice system and families deserve peace of mind that it is working to keep them safe, not waiting until tragedy strikes.
“This bill is sending a clear message: if you take the life of your spouse or partner, you will face the harshest penalty under the law. No more excuses or second chances for abusers who escalate to murder,” she said.
Rustad said the Conservative Party of BC has consistently called for stronger protections for survivors of intimate partner violence, including bail reform and a registry of violent repeat offenders.
He called on Ottawa to act quickly and for the BC NDP to also support the legislation.
“I hope to have all parties support this Bill and for its rapid passage. Countless Canadians' lives depend on it,” Caputo said at the end of his own statement.
