Justice Minister David Lametti Introduces Bail Reform Legislation

Bill C-48 looks to impose tougher laws for repeat violent offenders seeking bail

Federal Justice Minister David Lametti has introduced new legislation to make it harder for repeat violent offenders to be granted bail.

This comes after months of calls from premiers, police and opposition, to strengthen the country's bail system and implement tougher laws. 

Lametti says Bill C-48 looks to strengthen the country's bail system response to repeat violent offenders, including in cases involving weapons like guns, knives and bear spray. 

Premiers have asked the federal government to create a reverse-onus system for some offences, which would require some defendants to prove in court why they should get bail. 

Criminal Code changes being proposed include adding certain firearms to existing reverse onus provisions, and requiring courts to consider a suspect's previous convictions when making bail decisions. 

If passed, it would also expand the current intimate partner violence reverse onus to apply to suspects previously discharged of a domestic violence offence. 

As well, anyone charged with a violent offence involving a weapon would face new reverse-onus conditions if they were convicted of a similar offence within the last five years. 

Under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, anyone charged with a crime will not be denied reasonable bail without just cause. 

Lametti says his proposed changes respect that right.