麻豆影视

Skip to main content

'Bringing it back into balance': Provinces welcome bail reform promise, continue push for reverse onus

Share

Some provincial justice ministers say the federal government鈥檚 commitment this week to changing parts of the Criminal Code will bring 鈥渂ack into balance鈥 some 鈥渦nintended consequences鈥 of 2019 bail reform.

On Friday, after a long-awaited meeting with his provincial counterparts, federal Justice Minister and Attorney General David Lametti committed to making 鈥渢argeted reforms鈥 to the Criminal Code and Canada鈥檚 bail system.

鈥淲e have a broad consensus on a path forward, one based on a set of shared principles and clear objectives,鈥 Lametti said Friday. 鈥淭hat starts with a commitment from our government, the federal government, to move forward quickly on targeted reforms to the Criminal Code.鈥

But Lametti would not say whether he鈥檚 promised the provinces those reforms will include a reverse onus at bail hearings for certain firearms charges, something the premiers have been calling for. A reverse onus would mean those seeking bail would have to show why they should be released, as opposed to the Crown demonstrating why they should be detained.

鈥淚 can鈥檛 get out in front of my parliamentary colleagues, and I can鈥檛 get out in front of my cabinet colleagues,鈥 Lametti said, when pressed on whether the reforms will include a reverse onus.

Meanwhile, the attorneys general for Manitoba and British Columbia told CTV鈥檚 Question Period host Vassy Kapelos, in an interview airing Sunday, making it harder for some repeat offenders to get bail is necessary to address a 鈥渞ise in random attacks and violence鈥 in Canada.

鈥淲hat came from the meetings was a clear commitment for legislative changes to the Criminal Code that would add stronger provisions on repeat violent offenders and some firearm offenses,鈥 B.C. Attorney General Niki Sharma said. 鈥淪o we know that with those changes, that people who commit those offenses have an onus of being held unless there's a good reason to release them.鈥

Critics of reverse onus say it removes the right to presumption of innocence until proven guilty, but Sharma said in this case, and in the circumstances under which the provinces are pushing for it, the goal is not to change the fundamentals of the justice system.

鈥淓verything has a balance when it comes to bail,鈥 said Manitoba Justice Minister and Attorney General Kelvin Goertzen, adding many factors are taken into consideration at a bail hearing, such as whether the person will show up in court and whether they pose a risk to public safety.

鈥淲e're talking about the balance that we need to have in our justice systems of protecting the most vulnerable, making sure that if it's a repeat violent offender that causes harm to communities, we have more tools in the toolbox to make sure our communities are safe,鈥 Sharma said.

The federal government made other bail reforms in 2019 to address overcrowding in Canada鈥檚 prisons, as well as the overrepresentation of minorities in those prisons.

But Goertzen said the 鈥渢argeted reforms鈥 the provinces discussed with Lametti this week are unlikely to reverse the positive impacts of those 2019 changes.

鈥淲e鈥檙e not talking about everybody who's accused of a violent crime, we're talking about repeat offenders, which is a narrower band,鈥 he also said. 鈥淪o I do understand the concerns, but we still ultimately as ministers of justice do have a responsibility to ensure that people are safe in the community.鈥

IN DEPTH

Opinion

opinion

opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike

When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Why brain aging can vary dramatically between people

Researchers are uncovering deeper insights into how the human brain ages and what factors may be tied to healthier cognitive aging, including exercising, avoiding tobacco, speaking a second language or even playing a musical instrument.

The union representing some 1,200 dockworkers at the Port of Montreal has overwhelmingly rejected a deal with their employers association.

A man who was critically injured in a police-involved shooting in Hamilton late Sunday afternoon has died in hospital, says the province鈥檚 police watchdog.

opinion

opinion How to transition from renting to owning a home in Canada

In his column for CTVNews.ca, personal finance contributor Christopher Liew offers a step-by-step guide on how to make the shift from renting to becoming a homeowner, and what you can start doing today to help the process go smoother.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced voters in Cloverdale鈥擫angley City will pick their next member of Parliament on Dec. 16.

Local Spotlight

For the second year in a row, the 鈥楪ift-a-Family鈥 campaign is hoping to make the holidays happier for children and families in need throughout Barrie.

Some of the most prolific photographers behind CTV Skywatch Pics of the Day use the medium for fun, therapy, and connection.

A young family from Codroy Valley, N.L., is happy to be on land and resting with their newborn daughter, Miley, after an overwhelming, yet exciting experience at sea.

As Connor Nijsse prepared to remove some old drywall during his garage renovation, he feared the worst.

A group of women in Chester, N.S., has been busy on the weekends making quilts 鈥 not for themselves, but for those in need.

A Vancouver artist whose streetside singing led to a chance encounter with one of the world's biggest musicians is encouraging aspiring performers to try their hand at busking.

Ten-thousand hand-knit poppies were taken from the Sanctuary Arts Centre and displayed on the fence surrounding the Dartmouth Cenotaph on Monday.

A Vancouver man is saying goodbye to his nine-to-five and embarking on a road trip from the Canadian Arctic to Antarctica.

Stay Connected