Canada
Death penalty and prisoners' rights · Archive since 1999
Data card
- Legal status
- Abolitionist
- Executions recorded in 2026
- 0
- Executions recorded in 2025
- 0
- First news item in the archive
- JANUARY 1, 1999 · Canada also cosponsored the resolution on the moratorium...
- News items in the archive
- 141
Source: Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026.
Canada is classified as Abolitionist in the Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026. In 2026 the association recorded 0 executions in the country, against 0 the year before. The archive holds 141 news items on Canada, from 1999 to today.
Latest news
- FEBRUARY 12, 2026CanadaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA OVERTURNS DEATH SENTENCE FOR CANADIAN ROBERT SCHELLENBERG
China's Supreme People's Court on February 6, 2026 overturned the death sentence for accused Canadian drug smuggler Robert Schellenberg, a Canadian official told CBC News.
- MARCH 20, 2025CanadaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA EXECUTED FOUR CANADIANS FOR DRUG CRIMES, SAYS OTTAWA
Four Canadians were executed in China on drug-related charges earlier this year, Canadian authorities confirmed on March 19, 2025.
FEBRUARY 27, 2025CanadaDEATH PENALTYCANADA - 54% of Canadians still favor capital punishment
The figure drops to 35% if the alternative is life without parole
- APRIL 2, 2024CanadaDEATH PENALTY
CANADA - Poll: 57 per cent of Canadians support reinstating the death penalty
But, at the same time, 55 per cent prefer LWOP
JANUARY 24, 2024CanadaDEATH PENALTYUSA - Canada. Canadian firm under fire for supplying equipment for Smith's execution
MARCH 18, 2023CanadaDEATH PENALTYCANADA - 54% of Canadians support death penalty
AUGUST 10, 2021CanadaDEATH PENALTYCHINA - Death sentence upheld for Robert Lloyd Schellenberg
Pressure for Canada not to extradite "Lady Huawei" to the US.
JUNE 1, 2020CanadaDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Canada Continues Pressure On Iran To Hand Over Black Boxes Of Downed Airliner.
IRAN - Canada Continues Pressure On Iran To Hand Over Black Boxes Of Downed Airliner.
- JANUARY 1, 2020CanadaDEATH PENALTY
Canada abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1976, after a nine-year moratorium.
Canada abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1976, after a nine-year moratorium.
- FEBRUARY 1, 2019CanadaDEATH PENALTY
ASIA BIBI REUNITES WITH FAMILY IN CANADA
Asia Bibi, the Christian woman who spent eight years on death row on blasphemy charges in Pakistan, has arrived in Canada with her husband, German media reported on 1 February 2019, quoting her lawyer.
- JANUARY 1, 2019CanadaDEATH PENALTY
Canada abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1976, after a nine-year moratorium.
Canada abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1976, after a nine-year moratorium.
- JANUARY 1, 2018CanadaDEATH PENALTY
Canada abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1976, after a nine-year moratorium.
Canada abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1976, after a nine-year moratorium.
- JANUARY 1, 2017CanadaDEATH PENALTY
Canada abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1976, after a nine-year moratorium.
Canada abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1976, after a nine-year moratorium.
- SEPTEMBER 22, 2016CanadaDEATH PENALTY
CHINESE PREMIER LI KEQIANG DEFENDS USE OF DEATH PENALTY
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang defended his country’s continued reliance on the death penalty while visiting Ottawa, even as he and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau continue to work toward a formal extradition treaty.
- JULY 10, 2016CanadaDEATH PENALTY
CANADA - Poll: 58% of Canadians favor the death penalty.
CANADA - Poll: 58% of Canadians favor the death penalty.
- JANUARY 1, 2016CanadaDEATH PENALTY
Canada abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1976, after a nine-year moratorium.
Canada abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1976, after a nine-year moratorium.
- JANUARY 1, 2015CanadaDEATH PENALTY
Canada abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1976, after a nine-year moratorium.
Canada abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1976, after a nine-year moratorium.
- JANUARY 1, 2014CanadaDEATH PENALTY
Canada abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1976, after a nine-year moratorium.
Canada abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1976, after a nine-year moratorium.
- SEPTEMBER 24, 2013CanadaDEATH PENALTY
the wife of an Iranian-Canadian who was on death row in...
the wife of an Iranian-Canadian who was on death row in...
- JANUARY 1, 2013CanadaDEATH PENALTY
Canada abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1976, after a nine-year moratorium.
Canada abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1976, after a nine-year moratorium.
- DECEMBER 11, 2012CanadaDEATH PENALTY
CANADA - Canada marks 50 years since its last execution.
CANADA - Canada marks 50 years since its last execution.
- DECEMBER 2, 2012CanadaDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: COMPUTER PROGRAMMER'S DEATH SENTENCE SUSPENDED
Iran has suspended the death sentence for a computer programmer convicted on charges of running a pornographic website after he "repented for his actions," his lawyer was quoted as saying.
MAY 18, 2012CanadaDEATH PENALTYCHINA: PLEDGE NOT TO EXECUTE A LONGTIME FUGITIVE IN CANADA HONOURED
Lai Changxing, who spent 12 years on the run in Canada as China’s most notorious fugitive,
- JANUARY 1, 2012CanadaDEATH PENALTY
Canada abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1976, after a nine-year moratorium.
Canada abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1976, after a nine-year moratorium.
- DECEMBER 5, 2011CanadaDEATH PENALTY
Canadian High Commissioner in Dhaka Heather Cruden
Canadian High Commissioner in Dhaka Heather Cruden
- JULY 23, 2011CanadaDEATH PENALTY
CANADA DEPORTS TOP CHINESE FUGITIVE
China arrested its most wanted fugitive in the capital Beijing after Canada deported him to end a decades-long saga that had plagued Sino-Canadian relations, but concerns remained among activists about whether he would receive a fair trial.
- FEBRUARY 16, 2011CanadaDEATH PENALTY
CANADA DEPORTS CHINESE BUSINESSMAN DESPITE CONCERNS ABOUT DEATH PENALTY
a multimillionaire Chinese refugee claimant accused of fraud in his homeland was deported
- JANUARY 1, 2011CanadaDEATH PENALTY
Canada abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1976, after a nine-year moratorium.
Canada abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1976, after a nine-year moratorium.
- JANUARY 9, 2010CanadaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: SUPREME COURT REVOKES DEATH SENTENCE AGAINST TWO
the Saudi Arabian Supreme Court annulled the death sentences of two high school pupils accused of murdering a fellow student, Munther Al-Haraki, in January 2007.
- JANUARY 1, 2010CanadaDEATH PENALTY
Canada abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1976, after a nine-year moratorium.
Canada abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1976, after a nine-year moratorium.