This House of Commons committee meeting on Bill C-14, an act to amend the Criminal Code, the Youth Criminal Justice Act and the National Defence Act regarding bail and sentencing, heard from six witnesses in two panels.
Brian Sauvé, President of the National Police Federation, supported Bill C-14 as a meaningful step forward, particularly its clarification that public safety must be weighed in bail decisions and the targeted expansion of reverse onus provisions for serious, violent and weapons-related offences. He stressed that legislative reform alone is insufficient, calling for modern interoperable national information sharing, adequate supervision capacity, consistent breach enforcement, and updated lawful access authorities for digital evidence. He disagreed with the suggestion that mandatory minimums are effective, stating they have not worked in his experience.
Katherine Valentino, President of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities, expressed strong support for Bill C-14, citing high crime rates and repeat offending in Manitoba. She highlighted specific tragedies where accused individuals were out on bail and called for strong protections for first responders, including higher penalties for assaults against paramedics, firefighters and other frontline staff. She emphasized that success depends on sustained resourcing across the justice system, including adequate police visibility, court capacity, and investments in mental health and addictions supports.
Michael Atlas, Honorary Counsel for the Canadian Urban Transit Association, requested an amendment to Bill C-14 to expand section 269.01 of the Criminal Code to protect all transit workers, not just transit operators, from assaults. He noted that assaults against transit workers are growing in severity and that this change, similar to a previous bill (C-395), would provide clear legal recognition and protection for all frontline transit employees. He agreed that a multidisciplinary approach involving all levels of government is critical.
Kelly W. Sundberg, a professor at Mount Royal University, supported Bill C-14 as measured and legally cautious. He proposed a narrowly tailored reverse onus provision for foreign nationals charged with offences that would render them inadmissible under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, arguing this would align bail law with Parliament's seriousness structure. He emphasized the need for sustained support for indigenous communities and indigenous-led solutions, and called for greater transparency and availability of criminal justice data.
Tiago Murias, a criminal lawyer, focused exclusively on the Youth Criminal Justice Act amendments, which he largely supported. He recommended expanding the definition of "violent offence" to include specific firearm-related offences, arguing it is an aberration that simple assault can lead to custody while possession of a loaded handgun does not automatically. He also proposed amending the act to require provinces to offer intermittent custody and intensive rehabilitative custody programs, which he said were effective but cut due to funding decisions.
Peter Copeland, Deputy Director of Domestic Policy at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, argued that Canada's public safety issues are not primarily about bail but about repeat violent offenders and organized crime. He recommended moving toward a U.S.-style RICO framework for organized crime, reducing excessive judicial discretion in sentencing by prioritizing denunciation and deterrence for serious offences, and expanding serious non-custodial sentencing options. He disagreed with the bill's narrow focus, stating it misses opportunities for broader sentencing reform.
The committee discussed scheduling, with the chair noting that on Wednesday they will start at 3:30 p.m. and have resources available until 1 a.m. for clause-by-clause consideration.
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