Justice Minister David Lameti said the Conservative Party is pressuring the federal government to tighten bail conditions in certain cases, prompting the government to consider changing the law to deal with repeat violent offenders. says there is.
Rametti announced in the House of Representatives on Thursday that he would also reach out to state and territory counterparts to convene an “urgent” meeting on bail.
“We act at the federal level,” he said. “I hope my local counterparts will do the same.”
The conference saw 13 prime ministers write to prime ministers demanding changes to make bail more difficult for those facing charges related to possession of loaded, prohibited or restricted firearms. It took place less than a month later.
The Prime Minister specifically seeks to impose “reverse liability” on those charged under Article 95 of the Penal Code. This includes offenses for possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm.
“I am seriously considering this and the work is progressing well,” Rametti said, adding that “legislative and non-legislative options are available to address the specific challenges of repeat violent offenders. It added that work is also being done to develop it.
WATCH | Conservative lawmakers call Canada’s bail system ‘too weak’
Conservative MP and Public Safety Minister Raquel Dancho discusses the Conservative Party’s proposed changes to the bail system.
The country’s bail system is under scrutiny after the death of a Toronto police officer late last year.
Randall Mackenzie has been charged with first-degree murder in the Konst shooting. Grzegorz Pierzchala said he was released on bail on December 27 and was under a lifelong ban from owning a firearm.
Conservative MPs used Thursday’s protests to pressure the Liberals to strengthen the country’s bail system and demand the government reform its judicial system through Bill C-75. The bill, passed in 2019, was intended to modernize the bail system and reduce over-representation of racialized people in prisons.
Conservative public safety commentator Raquel Dancho told a news conference Thursday morning that “they went too far, undermined the bail system and now the police are dying.”
“Bill C-75 essentially created a default position for courts and police to facilitate bail,” Dancho said.
“This is the current default position for violent offenders and we don’t believe it should be. Repeated violent offenders should make it more difficult for them to get bail.”
The Conservative Party has called on the government to aim for existing laws that “make sure that those who are prohibited from possessing firearms and who are accused of serious firearms crimes are not easily released on bail”.
Bail policy under scrutiny
Earlier this year, Canadian Police Association president Tom Stamatakis called for reforms to deal with serial offenders.
“We recognize that the majority of offenders do not reoffend. There are a small minority of prolific and violent offenders who continue to pose a danger to society after being released. We need to find common sense reforms to address cases of
Critics argue that stricter rules on bail could cripple Canada’s prison system with people who have not yet been convicted and violate the rights of Canadians.
WATCH | Justice Minister calls for emergency meeting on bail with state and territory counterparts
Attorney General David Rameti told the House of Representatives the need for a “holistic approach” across government levels to address “the particular challenges posed by repeated violent offenders.”
A person accused of a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Granting them bail means they can stay out of prison, often conditionally, while their cases move through the judicial system.
under Charter of Rights and FreedomsCanadian defendants have the right to bail unless there is a very compelling reason to keep them in custody.
It’s up to police and prosecutors to grant bail, but certain crimes, such as murder, have “reverse liability” and the accused must convince the court to release them.
Dancho told reporters on Thursday that the Conservative motion was aimed at “repeated violent offenders”.
Violent crime is on the rise in Canada, according to the latest statistics from Statistics Canada. Federal agencies track what is called the Violent Crime Severity Index, which takes into account both the amount and severity of violent crime.
Police-reported sexual assaults, child sexual assaults, homicides, extortion, harassment and intimidation, and violent firearms violations were the main causes of the increase in the index in 2021, according to Statistics Canada.
