Pierre Poilievre is calling on other parties to join the Conservatives in supporting a private members’ bill meant to combat intimate partner violence.
Tabled by Kamloops MP Frank Caputo, Bill C-225 received its first reading on Sept. 18 and its second reading on Oct. 20.
It's named Bailey's Law in honour of Bailey McCourt, who was murdered in Kelowna on July 4, allegedly by her ex-husband who had been released on bail just hours earlier.
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It would automatically make the killing of an intimate partner an act of first-degree murder and increase sentencing for other domestic crimes like assault and criminal harassment.
Bailey’s Law would also make it so anyone convicted of an intimate partner crime in the past five years could only be released by a judge and empower courts to detain the accused at any time for a risk assessment.
"We want to work with any party to get this bill passed to protect people,” Poilievre said in Ottawa on Tuesday. “We encourage every party to join with us. It doesn't matter who gets the credit. Let's do the right thing now."
Caputo spoke after Poilievre, calling Bill C-225 “the most comprehensive response to intimate partner violence in Canadian history.”
“This bill is completely non-partisan,” he noted. “The time for change is now.”
Caputo said the bill is supported by McCourt’s family, including her aunt Debbie Henderson and stepmom Trish McCourt who stood behind him in Ottawa, as well as McCourt’s friend Carrie Wiebe.
“I talked to her this morning,” he said. “She was a survivor of the attack on Bailey McCourt. She’s recovering at home and we wish her all the best.”
LIVE: Protect Victims, Not Abusers https://t.co/oR37tR6urR
— Pierre Poilievre (@PierrePoilievre) October 28, 2025
Caputo also said he, Henderson and Trish McCourt spoke to BC Premier David Eby on the phone on Monday.
“He supports this bill. When you have an NDP premier supporting a Conservative private members’ bill, we know we’re on the right track.”
Speaking about Bill C-14 on Monday, a bill introduced by the federal Liberals last week promising stricter bail and tougher sentencing, Eby admitted that the legislation did not give McCourt’s family everything they sought.
“We continue to advocate for the reforms the family is asking for, related to a presumption around first-degree murder,” he said, adding that the BC NDP “will continue to work with the federal government on this.”
Holding back tears, Henderson also spoke to reporters in Ottawa on Monday, expressing the family’s support of Bailey's Law and pleading for it to be moved forward.
“We are demanding change. There’s no need to wait. This is an epidemic.”
