Manitoba asking Carney to prioritize bail reform

Manitoba Justice Minister Matt Wiebe speaks with reporters on March 21, 2025. (Jamie Dowsett/CTV News Winnipeg)

The Manitoba government is joining a cross-country effort to ask the federal government to prioritize bail reform.

Speaking to reporters Friday, Justice Minister Matt Wiebe said Premier Wab Kinew has joined the Council of the Federation in calling for changes to the bail system to address violent and repeat offenders.

“Our premier has taken action; he has crafted a letter, joining premiers from across the country, calling on new Prime Minister Mark Carney to come up with a strong bail reform plan and share it with Canadians,” he said.

Minister Wiebe noted the recent death of Kellie Verway, 28, of Portage la Prairie, in Friday’s press release, as she was allegedly killed by James Lorne Hilton in a collision on Jan. 15.

Hilton was out on bail at the time of the collision after violating “multiple bail conditions.” He was charged with several offences in Verway’s death, including dangerous driving causing death and impaired driving. None of those allegations have been tested in court.

Earlier this month, Manitoba MLAs unanimously passed a motion to lobby Ottawa to change the Criminal Code regarding bail. Members of Verway’s family were in attendance.

“They came to the legislature with a clear message; they wanted to see our province lead the way in calling for bail reform at the federal level,” Wiebe said.

Wiebe noted a federal election is expected to be called soon and said it’s time for the federal government to commit to fixing this issue.

“These failures on bail reform at the federal level have a real impact on families, on communities, and on so many people across our province,” he said.

The province’s budget tabled Thursday includes $1.5 million to expand the province’s electronic monitoring program, which was introduced in 2024.