A safer Canada demands a stronger bail system

These days, you don’t have to look far to find heartbreaking stories of people being failed by the justice system. In 2024, 45 percent of people charged with homicide in Saskatchewan were under court-ordered conditions or supervision at the time. In July of this year, a B.C. woman was murdered by her ex-husband merely hours after he was released on bail. And just a few months ago, a father of three was killed in a head-on collision by someone with a recent history of dangerous driving in Ontario. Our system isn’t working, and Canadians are paying the price. The reality is that communities across the country are grappling with high crime rates, home invasions, auto theft, and human trafficking. What’s worse? We’re seeing violent crimes being committed by high-risk individuals who have been released on bail. This is the dire consequence of a bail system that treats low-risk and high-risk offenders the same. In fact, our system keeps a harmful pattern going of “catch and release” that puts people at risk, strains local police forces, and erodes public confidence in how justice is delivered in Canada. Municipalities are on the front lines of maintaining public safety within our communities. Rising policing costs and systemic challenges leave municipalities without the tools and resources to respond. It’s especially tough right now for rural, remote, and northern communities with large geographic areas and limited tax bases. Canadians deserve to be protected, no matter where they live. We must do better. That’s exactly why the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) has been calling for meaningful bail reform by the federal government. First, as the Liberal government and the opposition Conservatives have acknowledged, we need to strengthen the Criminal Code to keep people safe. The government’s recently introduced bail reform legislation is a welcome initial step. We look forward to learning more about the federal government’s commitment to introducing reverse-onus bail provisions for serious crimes like violent auto theft, home invasions, human trafficking, and sexual assault. These changes must be paired with real investments in the justice system and law enforcement. The plan to hire 1,000 new RCMP officers and invest $1.8 billion means there will be more resources to tackle Canada’s biggest public safety challenges, from organized crime to money laundering. Additional support is still needed; to enforce bail conditions, officers will require the tools, training, and support to carry out their duty. To eliminate backlogs and ensure timely safety checks of repeat offenders, more judges, prosecutors, and court personnel will be necessary. A national data collection framework is also essential. Without coordination, provinces and territories may wrongly label repeat offenders as “first time” across different jurisdictions and slip through the cracks. As well, the federal government should prioritize a national study on best bail enforcement practices. Right now, enforcement approaches and technologies vary widely, so a Canada-wide review and adoption of best practices would ensure better outcomes across the board. Finally, we must tackle public safety holistically. The federal government’s recognition that enforcement alone is not enough is welcome. Major investments in affordable housing, mental health and crisis supports, addiction services, and youth programs are essential to addressing the root causes of crime. These efforts must be delivered in partnership with provinces, territories, municipalities, and local law enforcement to reflect the realities of the communities we serve. By reducing pressure on emergency responders and supporting vulnerable populations, we can help restore a sense of safety and resilience in our communities. Make no mistake, Canadians won’t accept the current failures as “just the way things are.” A Leger poll found that nearly 80 percent of Canadians agree that too many repeat offenders are granted bail. People are feeling increasingly anxious, and we, elected officials, are hearing it from our residents every day. Local leaders are ready to act, but we’re being crushed under the weight of a system that falls short. Canadians deserve better than catch-and-release justice.