News Release

Brampton, Ontario

Bill C-48 proposes to address repeat violent offending with weapons, including knives and bear spray, gun violence, and intimate partner violence (IPV). 

The federal government is committed to ensuring that the criminal justice system effectively keeps everyone in Canada and their communities safe. This means ensuring our bail laws maintain public safety, instill public confidence in the justice system, and respect the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. There are specific challenges facing our bail system posed by repeat violent offending, firearms, and other dangerous weapons that need to be addressed. MP Sidhu has heard about these challenges from residents, law enforcement, and local community organizations. 

This is why today, the Honourable David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, introduced legislation to improve Canada’s bail system and promote public safety. Bill C-48 proposes to make targeted changes to the Criminal Code’s bail regime to ensure our communities stay safe. The changes would address repeat violent offending with weapons, including knives and bear spray, gun violence, and intimate partner violence (IPV). The proposed reforms would make it more difficult for accused persons to get bail if it is alleged that they engaged in serious violent offending involving weapons, specific firearms offences and IPV. The Bill focuses on reverse onus provisions, which refer to circumstances where an individual would be detained while awaiting their trial unless they can prove to the court that their detention is not required. The proposed changes seek to improve the safety of people and communities across Canada.

The federal government is doing its part to make significant investments to prevent crime, keep communities safe, and address the causes of crime. This includes the recent announcement made at Peel Regional Police headquarters of $390 million in programs to help stop firearm crime and gang violence. 

Canadians deserve to be safe and feel safe in their communities and to have confidence that the criminal justice system will protect them and work as intended. The proposed reforms are an important additional step to achieve those goals.

-30-  

CONTACT:

The Office of Sonia Sidhu, Member of Parliament, Brampton South

P: (905) 846-0076   |  E: [email protected]