Bill C-238: An Act to amend the Criminal Code (restitution orders)

Non-profit and community organizations that provide front-line victim services — such as women's shelters, sexual assault centres, anti-trafficking programs, and harm reduction services — operating across all provinces could now be eligible to receive court-ordered restitution payments from offenders. These organizations often absorb costs like emergency housing, counselling, and crisis support directly tied to crimes committed against their clients. The bill creates a formal legal avenue to recover those out-of-pocket expenses, though individual victim restitution under existing provisions takes priority. Size and structure matter here: organizations must be able to clearly document and quantify their expenses to meet the 'readily ascertainable' standard required by the court.