The House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights met to study bail and sentencing reform, hearing from witnesses including Meechelle and Ronald Best, Jeremy Morton, Jennifer Dunn, Mark Baxter, Stéphane Wall, André Gélinas, Adam Dalrymple, Thomas Carrique, and Patrick Rivard.
Meechelle and Ronald Best described the killing of their daughter Kellie by a man who had been granted bail three times in two weeks before the incident, despite having an active warrant and breaching conditions. They called for stricter criteria for judges when making bail decisions, particularly for repeat offenders, and argued that the system prioritizes the rights of the accused over victims' safety, urging Parliament to fix the broken system.
Jeremy Morton, president of the Brantford Police Association, said Bill C-14 is a welcome step that addresses long-standing police concerns, including expanding reverse onus provisions and making community safety central to release decisions. He noted that in Brantford, officers repeatedly arrest the same individuals, and that detaining repeat violent offenders would protect victims and communities, while also calling for standardized training for justices of the peace.
Jennifer Dunn, executive director of the London Abused Women's Centre, emphasized that bail decisions must be trauma- and violence-informed, as releasing violent offenders forces survivors to relocate or live in fear. She highlighted the case of Caitlin Jennings, where bail was denied, and called for targeted accountability for high-risk repeat offenders, better oversight of sureties, and equal funding for frontline social services alongside the justice system.
Mark Baxter, president of the Police Association of Ontario, said the current bail system is a revolving door that emboldens offenders and drains police resources, with violent crime in Ontario up 20% between 2019 and 2023. He urged all parties to pass Bill C-14 immediately, arguing that it responds to frontline concerns, and stressed the need for stronger surety requirements, including actual deposits rather than pledges.
Stéphane Wall, a retired SPVM supervisor, argued that Bill C-75 prioritized release over public safety, forcing police to sometimes advise victims to move. He proposed clear gradation of penalties with mandatory minimum sentences for repeat violent offenders, such as escalating terms for domestic violence, and said Bill C-14 is an improvement but does not go far enough in codifying consequences for repeated breaches.
André Gélinas, a retired SPVM detective sergeant, said the system is too naive in assuming criminals will comply with release conditions, and that tragedies often occur before breaches are addressed. He called for upstream action to increase supervision and severity of conditions, particularly for organized crime, domestic violence, and firearm offences, and noted that Crown attorneys need more time and resources to properly vet bail plans.
Adam Dalrymple, president of the BC Crown Counsel Association, urged a holistic approach, arguing that tougher laws must be supported by sufficient frontline resources, including more prosecutors and a national bail information system. He said that without commensurate investment, new laws will overburden an already strained system, and that triage in bail hearings often means less serious matters receive less scrutiny.
Thomas Carrique, commissioner of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, welcomed Bill C-14 but said more work is needed, including clarifying the burden of proof in reverse onus hearings and strengthening the surety forfeiture process. He noted that more people are out on bail post-Bill C-48, and called for centralized data sharing across governments to monitor effectiveness, while urging all parties to prioritize public safety over partisan politics.
Patrick Rivard, director of Canadian operations for the Center for Trauma Informed Practices, advocated for a collaborative, data-based approach to risk assessment that goes beyond criminal history to consider pathways to violence. He noted that information-sharing among professionals is often limited by legislation, and that trauma-informed practices can help reduce repeat offending by understanding offenders' experiences, while keeping community safety paramount.
The committee also heard from members of Parliament who questioned witnesses on the specifics of Bill C-14, with some Conservative members arguing the bill does not go far enough on sentencing or parole, while Liberal members emphasized the need for provincial cooperation and resources. No procedural debate, motions, or votes occurred during the meeting.
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