Historical Background

Between 1892 and 1961, the penalty for all murders in Canada was death by hanging. In 1961, an act of Parliament divided murder into capital and non-capital categories.

The first private bill calling for abolition of the death penalty was introduced in 1914. In 1954, rape was removed from capital offenses. In 1956, a parliamentary committee recommended exempting juvenile offenders from the death penalty, providing expert counsel at all stages of the proceedings and the institution of mandatory appeals in capital cases.

Between 1954 and 1963, a private member's bill was introduced in each parliamentary session calling for abolition of the death penalty. The first major debate on the issue took place in the House of Commons in 1966. Following a lengthy and emotional debate, the government introduced and passed Bill C-168, which limited capital murder to the killing of on-duty police officers and prison guards.

On July 14, 1976 the House of Commons passed Bill C-84 on a free vote, abolishing capital punishment from the Canadian Criminal Code and replacing it with a mandatory life sentence without possibility of parole for 25 years for all first-degree murders.

Canada retained the death penalty for a number of military offenses, including treason and mutiny. No Canadian soldier has been charged with or executed for a capital crime in over 50 years. On 10 December, 1998, the last vestiges of the death penalty in Canada were abolished with the passage of legislation removing all references to capital punishment from the National Defence Act.

There were 710 executions in Canada between 1867 and 1962. The last execution was carried out on December 11, 1962 when 2 men were hanged in Toronto, Ontario. Between 1879 and 1960, there were 438 commutations of death sentences.

Most executions were carried out by hanging. At least one group of prisoners was shot. More known executions were carried out in Ontario than any other province. A number of prisoners were executed for treason during the War of 1812 and the 1837 rebellion. Executions took place throughout many towns. A large number were hanged at Toronto's Don Jail including the last three executions carried out in Canada.

Last Public Execution

Where was Canada's last public hanging? This is a question I've been trying to answer for our upcoming exhibit; but the answer has proven less straight forward than I anticipated. Yesterday, I was excited to find an An Order-in-Council, signed by John A MacDonald legislating the end of public hangings in Canada. Though hangings continued behind prison walls until 1962, was Canada's last public hanging at our Huron County Gaol? Read more.....

Last Execution in Canada

Shortly after 12:00 am on Tuesday, December 11, 1962, Arthur Lucas and Ronald Turpin were handcuffed and led from their death row cells in Toronto's Don Jail to the execution chamber some forty feet away. Once in the chamber the executioner placed them back to back, secured their arms and legs, placed a hood over each of their heads, and dropped ropes around their necks. With the pull of a lever the hangman plunged the two men into history as being the last men to hang in Canada.

Abolition of the Death Penalty

On July 14, 1976 the House of Commons passed Bill C-84 on a free vote, abolishing capital punishment from the Canadian Criminal Code and replacing it with a mandatory life sentence without possibility of parole for 25 years for all first-degree murders.

CBC Archives Death Penalty Debate

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