By Canadian Press

New Liberal law would make it harder for some repeat violent offenders to get bail

May 16, 2023 | 2:52 PM

OTTAWA – The federal government’s new bail-reform legislation includes measures that would make it more difficult for some repeat violent offenders to get released on bail.

Justice Minister David Lametti introduced the bill today following months of calls from premiers, police associations and victims’ rights groups to strengthen Canada’s bail laws.

Lametti says the bill responds “directly” to those concerns.

The legislation introduces “reverse-onus” bail conditions for people charged with serious violent offences involving a weapon, in cases where the person was convicted of a similar violent offence within the past five years.

It will also add new firearms offences to existing reverse-onus provisions, and broaden the existing provisions in cases involving intimate partner violence.

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Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says he would introduce legislation that would waive such offenders’ rights to a bail hearing in the first place.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 15, 2023.

The Canadian Press