In recent years, a trend toward an increasing criminalization of youth and an increased use of punitive interventions has been observed. This paper attempts to determine if this is the case in Canada by focusing on three aspects of its juvenile justice system: the legislative framework and the use of detention as a sanction, the use of alternative approaches and the growing interpenetration between the criminal and other institutional spheres. This paper shows that Canada has resisted this trend toward punitive measures, at least for now. In conclusion, it discusses why Canada is an exception to the rule.