Canada is working on legislation
that would allow legal action against crimes committed on the moon, among other space locations.
A budget bill containing
the proposed space law amendment for the moon passed its first reading April 29 in the country's House of Commons.
The moon's surface,
the Gateway space station and transportation to or from the Gateway would all fall under the proposed legislation, making Canadians in these locations subject to legal action for alleged crimes.
Canada appears to be getting
ready to expand its outer space access and responsibilities, following becoming the first country to sign an Artemis Accord with the United States in 2019.
The amendment to
Canada's Criminal Code is referenced in Bill C-19's Division 18, under a heading called "Civil Lunar Gateway Agreement Implementation Act."
The Budget Implementation Act
containing the proposed legal changes seeks to confirm the 2022 budget that the Canadian government introduced April 7.
If The Space Law
Section is ratified, it would have broad implications for international crime jurisdiction in space