Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced that his Liberal government is set to unveil new legislation next week aimed at cracking down on crime by implementing stricter sentencing guidelines and tightening the criteria for obtaining bail. This move aligns with Carney’s law and enforcement platform outlined during his spring election campaign, which also includes a commitment to recruit 1,000 additional RCMP officers.
Carney emphasized the forthcoming reforms during a recent statement, stating, “The minister of justice will be introducing legislation next week that includes significant changes to bail and sentencing processes. Our goal is to remove violent criminals and repeat offenders from our streets.”
The push for bail reform has long been advocated by the Conservative Party, citing concerns that the current system allows individuals with extensive criminal backgrounds to remain free while awaiting trial. Under the proposed legislation, repeat offenders facing charges related to crimes such as home invasions, violent car theft, assault, sexual assault, extortion, or human trafficking will be required to demonstrate their eligibility for bail, introducing a “reverse onus” approach where the burden is on the accused to prove their case.
Carney also highlighted plans to enhance penalties for repeat offenders involved in auto theft, organized crime, and home invasions to prevent them from re-victimizing communities. The new legislation will grant courts the authority to impose consecutive sentencing for violent and habitual offenders.
Addressing concerns about the legality of consecutive sentencing, Carney assured that his government consulted with legal experts, law enforcement agencies, and justice officials nationwide to ensure the proposed measures are constitutionally sound. He emphasized that the legislation aims to strengthen law enforcement, enhance public safety, and align with the principles of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Furthermore, Carney announced that the upcoming legislation will eliminate conditional sentencing for individuals convicted of sexual offenses, prohibiting them from serving their sentences in home confinement or in proximity to the areas where the crimes occurred.
In response to Carney’s announcement, the Conservative Party criticized the government’s approach, urging for the passage of their proposed Jail Not Bail Act (Bill C-242) instead. They asserted the need to repeal what they referred to as “hug-a-thug” policies and prioritize victims’ rights within the justice system.
To fulfill the promise of hiring 1,000 new RCMP personnel over a four-year period, the government has allocated $1.8 billion, which will also include raising the RCMP cadet recruitment allowance to $1,000 per week. Additionally, funding will be directed towards deploying 150 new RCMP officers dedicated to combatting financial crimes such as money laundering, online fraud, and the recovery of illicitly obtained assets.