The provincial government is calling for a federal reform to bail, announced yesterday during a media briefing. Joined by the Mayors of Battleford and North Battleford, the province announced they'd sent a letter to the federal government detailing its wants for bail reform.
In the document, the following key reforms are a priority for the province:
- Amend the Criminal Code to give primary consideration to public safety in the bail decision-making process.
- Amend the Criminal Code to better define the tertiary ground detention considerations to better reflect public safety concerns.
- Introduce a reverse onus for anyone convicted of a violent offence (no weapon necessary) who is accused of committing another violent offence, which puts the responsibility on the accused to show they are not a threat to public safety.
- Introduce reverse onuses for all firearm offences.
- Introduce a comprehensive reform to address organized crime, drug trafficking, and money laundering, including strict bail provisions against individuals charged with drug trafficking and organized crime offences.
- Amend legislation to strengthen sentencing options.
Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill, the MLA for the Battlefords, says that better bail rules are needed for the country.
"We see the same repeat offenders committing violent crimes in our community. Obviously, that has an effect on how people in our community feel about safety in the Battlefords, but it's also important that if you commit a criminal act, you pay the consequences for that act."
The letter calls for the federal government to do more to protect citizens by ensuring bail is properly placed.