Lametti says Conservatives exploiting tragedies 'to score political points' on bail reform

MPs debate need for bail reform in Canada Tory Leader Pierre Poilievre stirred up a heated debate between MPs in the house on the rising rate of violent crimes in Canada.

OTTAWA — Canada's justice minister has accused Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives of using tragedies such as the killing of a young Ontario Provincial Police officer "to try to score political points."

Lametti made the remark in the House of Commons on Thursday while debating a motion put forward by the Conservatives, which calls on members of Parliament to push Ottawa to enact bail reforms.

Raquel Dancho, the party's public safety critic, said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government has failed to act in the face of violence committed by offenders who have been released on bail.

She pointed to the fact that one of the two people charged with first-degree murder in the late December killing of OPP Const. Greg Pierzchala had initially been denied bail on a separate assault and weapons charge. He was later released, and after he failed to show up for a court hearing, a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Dancho said premiers and police chiefs are demanding action from the federal government, and the party's motion says Ottawa must ensure that the justice system "puts the rights of law-abiding Canadians ahead of the rights of violent, repeat offenders."

Lametti told the House he's looking into concerns voiced by premiers, but defended Canada's justice system, saying the law already stipulates that those deemed to pose a significant threat to society should not be released on bail.

"I'm disappointed that the official Opposition is using tragedies to try to score political points," he said.

"Canadians know that these are serious and complicated issues and that there are no quick or easy solutions."

The NDP and Bloc Quebecois said Thursday they would not be supporting the Conservatives' push to ask the government take a tougher stand on bail, although their MPs agreed that the recent spate of violence seen in the country is distressing and solutions are needed.

For their part, Tory MPs rejected the accusation they were playing politics with violence, highlighting that Toronto's police chief recently noted 24 of the last year's 44 shooting deaths in the city were committed by an accused out on bail.

Lametti said Thursday that dealing with repeat offenders requires a "comprehensive approach" involving different levels of government.

Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino added that a meeting with his provincial counterparts was in the works.

Among the changes premiers are asking the federal government to consider is creation of a "reverse onus on bail" for the offence of possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm.

In an early January letter, provincial leaders said they want to see someone accused of that crime have to demonstrate why they should not be detained as a matter of public safety.

Criminologists and other experts on bail say while they understand the desire from some for tougher measures, there is no evidence to suggest keeping certain offenders behind bars will reduce crime.

Rather, they say such an approach risks detaining more innocent people in jails.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 2, 2023.