Ontario is pressing the federal government to implement sweeping bail reforms, including eliminating bail for certain violent crimes and restoring mandatory minimum sentences, as Ottawa prepares to table new legislation next month.
In a joint letter sent Monday to federal Justice Minister Sean Fraser and Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree, Ontario Solicitor General Michael Kerzner and Attorney General Doug Downey outlined the province’s expectations for “comprehensive and wholesale solutions, rather than tinkering around the edges.”
The letter calls for removing bail eligibility for those charged with murder, terrorism, human trafficking, intimate partner violence, drug trafficking and firearms offenses. Ontario also wants a “three-strikes” rule mandating pretrial detention for repeat offenders and the restoration of mandatory minimum sentences for serious crimes.
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“It is critical that federal legislation meets the standard Canadians expect: cracking down on crime and keeping violent, repeat offenders behind bars where they belong,” the ministers wrote.
The demands come as Fraser has indicated he will introduce bail and sentencing reform legislation in October, following through on Liberal campaign promises from this spring’s federal election. The government committed to stricter bail provisions for home invasions, auto theft, human trafficking, organized crime and violent crime.
The push for tougher measures follows several high-profile incidents, including a major drug bust in Peel Region where seven of nine suspects were released on bail, and an attempted car theft at Premier Doug Ford’s home. Ford has repeatedly criticized what he calls a “broken” justice system.
Prime Minister Mark Carney recently met with Ford and expressed agreement with the premier’s position on bail reform, saying the federal government would move on the issues when Parliament resumes.
The latest demands build on previous federal reforms. In 2023, the government passed Bill C-48, which expanded “reverse onus” provisions for firearms offenses and intimate partner violence cases, meaning accused persons must justify why they should be released rather than prosecutors proving they should be detained.
However, some experts question whether tougher bail laws will improve public safety. Anthony Doob, professor emeritus at the University of Toronto’s Centre for Criminology and Sociolegal Studies, noted that Ontario already detains people “in huge numbers,” with nearly 50,000 people detained until their cases concluded last year.
The legislation, expected to be introduced when the House of Commons returns in October, will test whether the federal government adopts Ontario’s more aggressive approach or pursues more limited reforms.
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