Ottawa, ON – Garnett Genuis, Conservative Member of Parliament for Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, introduced a new Private Member’s Bill C-290, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (theft of property of cultural or religious significance), aimed at strengthening protections for sacred and culturally important property across Canada.
Under the Criminal Code, punishment for theft is primarily based on the economic value of stolen property. Stealing an item worth more than $5,000 can result in a more serious offence and stronger penalties than stealing an item worth less than that amount.
Genuis notes that this framework fails to recognize that some items carry immense spiritual, cultural or historical significance beyond their market value.
“Economic value is not the only concept of value,” said Genuis. “A sacred relic, a ceremonial object, or a culturally significant artifact may not be worth much in dollars and cents, but its loss can deeply harm an entire community.”
The legislation was inspired in part by the theft of a sacred relic from St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Forane Church in Scarborough. While the relic may have had limited monetary value, it held profound religious significance for parishioners.
The proposed bill would create a separate Criminal Code offence for the theft of religious or culturally significant property. It would apply the same level of seriousness and sentencing range currently associated with theft over $5,000 to thefts involving protected religious and cultural property.
“This bill would ensure that our laws recognize the true harm caused when sacred or culturally important items are stolen,” Genuis added. “It would help protect churches, temples, mosques, synagogues, museums, Indigenous communities and ethnocultural communities across Canada.”
The bill is intended to strengthen protections for communities that preserve and pass on their traditions through religious and cultural objects, while sending a clear message that these thefts are not ordinary property crimes.
“Protecting the sacred and cultural heritage of our communities is part of protecting Canada itself,” concluded Genuis.