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← Back to Law ExplorerLast verified: June 2026 · Source: laws-lois.justice.gc.ca
Homicide & RelatedIndictable
§229

Murder

Homicide
Maximum Sentence

Life imprisonment (mandatory)

Classification: Indictable
🍁 Immigration Impact

Murder carries mandatory life imprisonment. First-degree murder requires a minimum of 25 years before parole eligibility; second-degree requires 10-25 years. This is serious criminality under IRPA s.36(1). Creates permanent inadmissibility to Canada.

🍁 In Simple Terms

Killing with intent, or while meaning to cause harm likely to kill. The sentence is life imprisonment and it is not optional. First degree carries 25 years before parole can be considered and second degree between 10 and 25, and the record makes a person permanently inadmissible.

Legal Text, Criminal Code s. 229

Culpable homicide is murder (a) where the person who causes the death of a human being (i) means to cause his death, or (ii) means to cause him bodily harm that he knows is likely to cause his death, and is reckless whether death ensues or not; (b) where a person, meaning to cause death to a human being or meaning to cause him bodily harm that he knows is likely to cause his death, and being reckless whether death ensues or not, by accident or mistake causes death to another human being, notwithstanding that he does not mean to cause death or bodily harm to that human being; or (c) if a person, for an unlawful object, does anything that they know is likely to cause death, and by doing so causes the death of a human being, even if they desire to effect their object without causing death or bodily harm to any human being.

Amendment History (2)
R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 229
2019, c. 25, s. 77
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