Justice and Human Rights

Here is a summary of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights meeting on September 25, 2025, which began its study on bail, sentencing and the handling of repeat violent offenders. The witnesses were Tom Stamatakis, President of the Canadian Police Association; Brian Sauvé, President of the National Police Federation; and Clayton Campbell, President of the Toronto Police Association.

Tom Stamatakis stated that a small group of repeat violent offenders places enormous strain on police resources and erodes public trust. He recommended creating a stand-alone offence for breaching parole conditions, mandating the reporting of all breaches, replacing automatic statutory release with earned discretionary parole for high-risk offenders, and strengthening reverse onus provisions in bail decisions. He argued that the system is not effectively rehabilitating anyone due to a lack of therapeutic programming in corrections, and he called for a two-pronged approach of accountability and support for vulnerable youth.

Brian Sauvé said the justice system often functions like a revolving door, with members repeatedly arresting the same individuals. He called for better data and information sharing across jurisdictions, improved bail hearing resources and standards, strengthened monitoring and enforcement of release conditions, and measures to address the exploitation of youth by criminal networks. He noted that Bill C-48 was a "good start" but that more needs to be done, and he stressed that the federal government must provide leadership and work collaboratively with provinces and municipalities to implement reforms.

Clayton Campbell recommended legislation to define who is presumptively unsuitable to be a surety and to strengthen the secondary grounds for detention, including mandatory provisions barring bail for those with multiple serious violent convictions. He also called for mandatory consecutive periods of parole ineligibility for multiple life sentences, a separate parole regime for high-risk prisoners, and reforms to the Youth Criminal Justice Act to allow for longer sentences for serious violent offences. He stated that the gun buyback program would have zero impact on crime in Toronto and that resources should be redirected to more effective public safety measures.

During the question period, members asked about the impact of Bill C-75 and Bill C-5. The witnesses agreed that the principle of restraint needs to be reconsidered for violent repeat offenders and that a lack of resources and inconsistent training for justices of the peace are significant problems. They also noted that the justice system has shifted too far towards the rights of the accused, neglecting victims, and that the exploitation of youth by organized crime requires stronger consequences for recruiters. The committee did not engage in any procedural debate, motions, or votes during this meeting.