In recent months Canada has experienced an escalating wave of violent crime with nine on-duty police officers killed; the highest rate of police killings the country has ever known.  Ironically, Canada was once known as a relatively safe place to live, where law and order was respected. Clearly this is no longer the case.

In response, Canadian Chiefs of Police request an urgent conference of premiers to demand changes to the country’s bail policy.  To that end, all 13 premiers signed a letter in January demanding “immediate action to strengthen Canada’s bail system.”

The Police Chiefs rightly state “the criminal justice system renders much of our work pointless.” Data provided for the summer of 2022 in Vancouver showed 78 percent of the 44 “stranger attack” suspects were previously criminally charged. Furthermore, more than 11,000 “negative police contacts” throughout BC were caused by only 204 offenders facing no consequences for their crimes.

The easy bail problem stems from Bill C-75, a package of criminal amendments passed by the Trudeau Liberals in 2018 that severely restricted judge’s ability to keep violent offenders in custody before trial. The law dictates the main priority of a bail hearing is “releasing the accused at the earliest opportunity and on the least onerous conditions.” Moreover, judges must also give special consideration to those from “vulnerable populations.” Randall Mckenzie, accused in the Dec. 27 murder of OPP officer Pierzchala, has a history of violent crime but, as an Indigenous person, is in the “vulnerable” group.  Priority was given to his ethnic identity, and he was released, even though the judge thought him likely to reoffend.  Judicial considerations of ethnic origin should not trump protecting the public.

The federal government has a duty to advance the common good by protecting law abiding citizens and officers yet passing Bill C-75 has made it easier for repeat violent offenders to get bail and to do further harm.  It’s a contradiction to enact ‘law’ promoting lawlessness and violence. Thus, Police on Guard supports the efforts of Canadian Chiefs of Police towards bail reform.

To read the National Post article written by Tristin Hopper, click here