With recent high-profile cases of killings committed by persons out on judicial release highlighting the need for bail reform, it is encouraging to see elected officials leading the call for change.
Whether tightening up Canada’s bail system will lead to less violence remains to be seen. What is known is that if changes are needed to better protect law-abiding citizens, then those changes should be made.
Provincial government leaders, including justice and public safety ministers, recently met with their federal counterparts to discuss the need for bail reform. Somewhat surprisingly there was actually agreement among all those involved that updating the bail system is needed.
For his part, Alberta Minister of Justice Tyler Shandro says making it tougher for repeat offenders to get bail is something that is long overdue.
“Time and time again, violent offenders commit crimes and then are out on bail to commit more acts of violence and more crime,” said Shandro. “For this to change, the federal government must amend its Criminal Code.
“The law on bail if fundamentally unsound and must be reformed. With public security rapidly deteriorating, the best time to act was years ago. The second-best time is now.”
Justice Minister David Lametti said the federal government plans to move forward with what he called 'targeted reforms' to the bail system.
“Bail is a constitutional right, but it is not absolute,” Lametti said. “Our laws are clear that bail can be denied where there is just cause, when it is necessary for the safety of the public or to maintain the public’s confidence in the administration of justice.”
The country’s 13 premiers recently called for the bail system to shift to a so-called ‘reserve onus’ procedure, where an accused person would have to argue why he or she should not be denied bail.
With federal and provincial leaders apparently agreeing that bail reform is needed, meaningful changes may actually be on the horizon. And that’s welcome news for everyone.
Dan Singleton is an editor with the Albertan.
