C-271 (45-1) - Protecting Canada's Essential Infrastructure Metals Act
Chamber
commons
Stage
1st Reading
Introduced
Mar 13, 2026
Progress
This bill creates new Criminal Code offences for trafficking stolen scrap metal and damaging essential infrastructure components.
Key Changes
- Creates a new offence for knowingly trafficking in or possessing scrap metal obtained through crime, with fines up to $10,000 and up to 10 years imprisonment for a first indictable offence
- Creates a separate, lower-level offence for scrap metal dealers who are reckless or wilfully blind about whether the metal they handle was stolen
- Establishes that stealing metal from public or private infrastructure — especially systems like electrical, telecom, railways, pipelines, or water systems — is an aggravating factor at sentencing
- Creates a new mischief offence specifically for damaging a physical component of essential infrastructure, knowing it will disable that infrastructure
- Lists aggravating circumstances for infrastructure mischief, including causing service interruptions, endangering public safety, or committing the act to facilitate another crime like theft
- Defines 'scrap metal' to include copper, aluminum, brass, bronze, steel, iron, and their alloys or derivatives that have been dismantled or prepared for recycling or resale
Gotchas
- The dealer offence (s. 355.9) uses a 'reckless or wilfully blind' standard rather than requiring actual knowledge, meaning dealers can be convicted even if they did not know for certain the metal was stolen — this places a due diligence burden on the scrap metal industry
- The definition of 'scrap metal' is limited to six specific metals and their alloys; theft or trafficking of other metals would not fall under these new provisions
- The new mischief offence for essential infrastructure references the definition of 'essential infrastructure' from s. 52.1(2) of the Criminal Code, tying this bill's scope to an existing legal definition that may evolve separately
- Repeat offenders face significantly higher fines (up to $25,000 on indictment) but the maximum imprisonment term does not increase for subsequent offences
- As a private member's bill, it may face a longer and less certain path to becoming law compared to government legislation
Who's Affected
- Scrap metal dealers and recycling businesses
- Individuals who steal and sell metals from infrastructure
- Operators of electrical, telecommunications, railway, pipeline, water, and wastewater systems
- Law enforcement and Crown prosecutors
- General public who rely on essential infrastructure services
Vibes
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Gotchas
- The dealer offence (s. 355.9) uses a 'reckless or wilfully blind' standard rather than requiring actual knowledge, meaning dealers can be convicted even if they did not know for certain the metal was stolen — this places a due diligence burden on the scrap metal industry
- The definition of 'scrap metal' is limited to six specific metals and their alloys; theft or trafficking of other metals would not fall under these new provisions
- The new mischief offence for essential infrastructure references the definition of 'essential infrastructure' from s. 52.1(2) of the Criminal Code, tying this bill's scope to an existing legal definition that may evolve separately
- Repeat offenders face significantly higher fines (up to $25,000 on indictment) but the maximum imprisonment term does not increase for subsequent offences
- As a private member's bill, it may face a longer and less certain path to becoming law compared to government legislation
Summary
Bill C-271 amends the Criminal Code to address two related problems: the theft and resale of metals from critical infrastructure, and deliberate damage to essential infrastructure. It creates a new offence for anyone who knowingly traffics in — or possesses for the purpose of trafficking — scrap metal that was obtained through a crime. It also creates a specific mischief offence for damaging a physical component of essential infrastructure when the person knows or is reckless about whether that infrastructure will stop working without that component. The bill targets a real-world problem where thieves strip copper wiring, aluminum, or other metals from power lines, railways, pipelines, and telecommunications systems, then sell the stolen metal to scrap dealers. This can knock out electricity, disrupt communications, or create safety hazards. The bill also holds scrap metal dealers to a standard of care — dealers who are reckless or wilfully blind about whether the metal they buy was stolen can also face charges. The bill was introduced as a private member's bill by Mrs. Cody in March 2026. It responds to growing concerns about infrastructure theft and the role that scrap metal markets can play in enabling that theft.
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Vibes
0 responses