Skip to main content
← Back to Law ExplorerLast verified: June 2026 · Source: laws-lois.justice.gc.ca
Theft, Fraud & PropertyIndictable
§433

Arson: Disregard for Human Life

Arson — disregard for human life

Theft & Fraud
Maximum Sentence

Life imprisonment

Classification: Indictable
🍁 Immigration Impact

Arson with disregard for human life is a straight indictable offence punishable by life imprisonment, clearly serious criminality under IRPA s.36(1)(a). Deemed rehabilitation does not apply, so criminal rehabilitation is the only pathway.

🍁 In Simple Terms

Setting a fire or an explosion that put someone's life at risk, whether or not anyone was actually hurt. It carries life imprisonment with no lighter route available, which is serious criminality at the top end. Time passing does not clear a record like this.

Legal Text, Criminal Code s. 433

Every person who intentionally or recklessly causes damage by fire or explosion to property, whether or not that person owns the property, is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for life where (a) the person knows that or is reckless with respect to whether the property is inhabited or occupied; or (b) the fire or explosion causes bodily harm to another person.

Amendment History (2)
R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 433
1990, c. 15, s. 1
Related Sections
Official Source: Justice Canada: Criminal Code s. 433 (authoritative, may differ from this display)
Explore Your Admissibility
See how this offence maps to Canadian law and what it means for entry.
Explore Your Admissibility