Government Welcomes Royal Assent for Private Member's Bill to Regulate Mixed Martial Arts
OTTAWA, June 19, 2013 – The Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Niagara Falls, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today welcomed the Royal Assent of Private Member’s Bill S-209, an Act to amend the Criminal Code (prize fights). Sponsored by Senator Bob Runciman in April 2012, the legislation permits provinces and territories to authorize other types of prize fights beyond boxing, to include professional mixed martial arts and amateur combative sports, such as judo and karate.
“The Government welcomes Royal Assent of new legislation to allow provincial choice in authorizing professional mixed martial arts and amateur combative sports,” said Minister Nicholson. “This legislation updates the definition of prize fighting in a way that reflects today’s reality.”
Before today, only a prize fight in boxing could be permitted as an exception to the offence under the Criminal Code. The legislation that became law today expands that exception by allowing provinces and territories to authorize prize fights in professional mixed martial arts and in amateur combative sports, including those that are on the program of the International Olympic Committee. Prize fighting is an area that is regulated by provinces and territories to ensure standards in safety.
“This bill recognizes the sporting world has changed in the nearly 80 years since this section of the Criminal Code was updated,” said Senator Runciman. “It also gives provincial authorities the clarity they need to better regulate both amateur and professional combative sports, and to protect the health and safety of athletes.”
The Bill comes into force on Royal Assent.
An online version of the legislation can be found at www.parl.gc.ca
-30-
Follow Department of Justice Canada on Twitter (@JusticeCanadaEn), join us on Facebook or visit our YouTube channel.
- Date Modified:
