Minister Fraser speaks on Canada’s sweeping bail and sentencing reforms becoming law

[00:00:00]Good evening. Changes meant [music] to get tougher on crime are on the way.

[00:00:03]Canada's sweeping bail and sentencing reforms will become law next month.

[00:00:07]>> Bill C-14 is set to take effect July 15th and includes provisions making it more difficult to get bail for repeat offenders. See, officials outlined details of this bill in Brampton today.

[00:00:18]Our Raheem Ladani joins us live now with the details. Raheem.

[00:00:23]>> Michelle and Nathan, good evening. This is certainly a significant development in terms of how bail and sentencing are handed out right across Canada, not just here in Ontario, but not everyone is applauding this new law.

[00:00:39]>> Over the past few years, videos like these have become more common. Violent attempts of extortion against homes and businesses. More than 450 were reported in Peel region last year. It's one reason why Brampton's mayor is welcoming stricter bail and sentencing laws.

[00:00:56]>> We've had a revolving door justice system where the police spend far too much time on the same repeat frequent flyers as we call them.

[00:01:03]>> Politicians and law enforcement were in Brampton today touting Bill C-14, which became law last week. 80 changes to the criminal code, including requiring courts to consider when attacks are unprovoked and more consecutive sentences.

[00:01:18]>> We needed to take a stronger approach uh when it came to violent repeat offenders, particularly on issues like extortion, uh home invasions, and auto theft.

[00:01:26]>> Under the new law, some accused will have to convince the court why they should be released instead of prosecutors arguing why they should remain in custody. It's a change which has been frustrating Peel police officers for years.

[00:01:39]>> Our officers work incredibly hard to protect our community, but find themselves dealing over and over again with the same individuals.

[00:01:48]>> With more people behind bars, more pressure will also be put inside already crowded remand centers, raising the question of safety for those who haven't been found guilty. Ontario's Attorney General says there is a plan.

[00:02:01]>> We are building new facilities, but we're reopening old facilities that were closed by the previous government, several of them.

[00:02:07]>> However, critics are skeptical, arguing some of the new facilities have triple bunking with cells occupying more people than they're designed for. The Canadian Civil Liberties Association say the new bail and sentencing law is flawed at addressing the root causes of crime.

[00:02:22]>> All of the new reverse onus provisions that are specific to offenses apply to people who have no criminal record, no history of violence, and no prior involvement with the law. And so, there's a real disconnect between what we've been told this bill does and who it applies to and the reality on the ground.

[00:02:40]>> The changes on bail and sentencing will come into effect on July 15th.

[00:02:47]The federal government is also making up to a quarter of a million dollars available to all provinces so that they can track the changes and the impact that the changes are having on the new law. Reporting live, I'm Raheem Ladani.

[00:02:58]Michelle, back to you.

[00:02:59]>> Thank you, Raheem.