OACP Endorses CACP’s Statement on Bill C-48, An Act to Amend the Criminal Code (Bail Reform)

Ontario’s Police Leaders Endorse the

Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police’s Statement on

Bill C-48, An Act to Amend the Criminal Code (Bail Reform)

May 18, 2023

The Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) endorses the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police’s (CACP) statement issued on May 17, 2023, which welcomed the introduction of Bill C-48, An Act to Amend the Criminal Code (Bail Reform), by the Government of Canada. The CACP statement can be accessed here.

Ontario’s police leaders welcome the proposed changes to the Criminal Code of Canada related to the bail system. In our view, the legislative changes in Bill C-48 are a step in the right direction in eliminating and preventing potential threats to public safety and community well-being posed by repeat offenders with a history of violence.

Incidents of repeat offenders with a history of violence being granted judicial interim release and committing violent criminal acts are not uncommon today. As police professionals, we will always advocate strongly for the public’s right to be protected from repeat violent offenders. The public’s need for protection from harm must be given far greater weight than is currently the case when bail matters are considered. The safety and security of Canadians must be paramount when it comes to this issue.

We thank the Government of Canada for responding to the concerns of police professionals across Canada when it comes to bail reform. We are also grateful for the support of Canada’s Premiers in advocating for changes to the bail system, and specifically thank the Government of Ontario for its on-going efforts on this issue.

In regard to Bill C-48, we look forward to continuing to engage with federal and other lawmakers to ensure legislative changes deliver on the goal of making our communities safe for everyone across our nation.