Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is among the provincial and territorial leaders calling for changes to Canada's bail system. (Photo: Government of Alberta)

By Canadian Press

Canada’s premiers, police chiefs re-up calls on Ottawa to reform bail

Apr 21, 2023 | 4:00 PM

OTTAWA, ON — The association representing Canada’s chiefs of police is calling for the extension of a federal guns and gangs strategy and urgent reforms to the country’s bail system after a meeting with provincial and territorial premiers Friday.

Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson, who chairs the Council of the Federation, said a key focus of the meeting was on reforms to protect communities by keeping repeat violent offenders off of the streets.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith adds that Canada’s provincial and territorial leaders are untied in their commitments to public safety and support for law enforcement.

Smith said she is among the many voices across the country that are getting louder in demanding reforms to Canada’s “catch-and-release bail system.”

“The federal government’s revolving door policies are hurting our communities, and in the coming days the Premiers will be writing a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to address issues related to violent and repeat offenders,” said Smith. “Crime rates and incidents of violence across the country are extremely alarming and we are all committed to ensuring Canadians feel safe on their streets, in their homes and in their communities.”

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Justice Minister David Lametti committed to move forward quickly on “targeted reforms” to the Criminal Code that would update Canada’s bail system after meeting with his counterparts from the provinces and territories last month.

That request followed premiers’ previous calls for Ottawa to create “reverse onus” measures for certain offences that would require a person seeking bail to prove why they should not stay behind bars.

Stefanson said on Friday that federal action is needed “now more than ever.”

“Reforms should not be delayed further for public protection and safer communities and to support the work and dedication of all of our law enforcement officers that seek to protect Canadians right across our country,” she said.

Lametti is not committing to a specific timeline for introducing reforms to Canada’s bail system, but has expressed hope that he can do so before the end of the spring session, which is scheduled to wrap up in late June.

The minister is “moving forward expeditiously on targeted reforms to the Criminal Code on the law of bail,” press secretary Diana Ebadi said in a statement.

“The reforms will address the challenges posed by repeat violent offenders, as well as offences committed involving the use of firearms and other dangerous weapons.”

Premiers also reupped their calls for the federal government to renew and enhance its Guns and Gang Violence Action Fund, which supports provincial and territorial public-safety initiatives.

That fund allocated $358.8 million over five years beginning in 2018 to help federal, provincial and territorial governments tackle an increase in gun violence and gang activity.

Stefanson said the federal government has agreed to extend the funding.

But she said the province has not seen any evidence that Ottawa is following through on that promise, and called on the federal government to provide a formal commitment to continue the funding.

“All of our premiers agree on that front that now is the time to continue that fund,” said Stefanson. “We’re calling on the federal government to ensure that they do that.”

The virtual meeting with police chiefs took place after recent violent attacks and murders in Metro Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Calgary, Edmonton, Regina and Toronto.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 21, 2023.

David Fraser, The Canadian Press

READ MORE: All of Canada’s premiers call for bail system reform