Skip to main content

Criminal Code

s. 433 Arson: Disregard for Human Life

Arson — disregard for human life

  • Theft, Fraud & Property
  • Theft & Fraud
Maximum sentence
Life imprisonment
Classification
Indictable

Last verified: June 2026 · Source: laws-lois.justice.gc.ca

The law says

Criminal Code s. 433
Verify on justice.gc.ca(opens in a new tab)

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

Justice Laws is the authoritative version. If this copy and it ever differ, Justice Laws wins.

Immigration

Where this offence sits under IRPA

This is arson where the person knows the place may have people in it, or where the fire or blast hurts someone. It must be charged by indictment and can bring a life sentence. That makes a conviction clearly serious criminality under IRPA s.36(1)(a). Deemed rehabilitation does not apply. For a conviction outside Canada, the path is criminal rehabilitation, an application to show the Minister that the person has reformed (s.36(3)(c)). For a conviction in Canada, it is a record suspension (s.36(3)(b)).

This is how the law sorts the offence, not a reading of any one record. An officer decides each case.

IRPA sections involved

Guides on offences like this one

No guide cites this section directly. These guides cite related offences.

Theft & Shoplifting Conviction Entry to CanadaFraud & White-Collar Crime Entry to Canada

Related sections

Criminal Code s. 434Arson: Damage to PropertyIndictableCriminal Code s. 430MischiefHybrid