Ontario’s Ford government is pressing the federal government to bring back tougher bail and sentencing provisions as it prepares new justice reforms.
Ontario’s solicitor general and attorney general sent a joint letter Sept. 22 asking the federal government to deliver substantive reforms to Canada’s federal bail and sentencing laws.
“We are writing to convey Ontarians’ expectation for comprehensive and wholesale solutions, rather than tinkering around the edges,” Michael Kerzner and Doug Downey stated. “It is critical that federal legislation meets the standard Canadians expect: cracking down on crime and keeping violent, repeat offenders behind bars where they belong.”
Among Ontario’s asks are getting rid of bail eligibility for offences such as murder, intimate partner violence, and certain firearms charges, as well as reinstating mandatory minimum penalties for “serious” crimes. The province also wants to introduce a “three-strikes” rule that would automatically deny bail for repeat offenders….