Winnipeg’s mayor reacts to the Prime Minister’s new bill on bail reform, coming next week

Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham spoke to media Thursday following Prime Minister Mark Carney’s announcement that the federal government will soon be introducing a new bill involving bail provisions for serious offenders.

“Two major new measures that Canada’s government is taking to build safer communities for you and your loved ones,” said Carney.

“We’re strengthening the criminal code, to get tough on bail and sentencing, keeping violent criminals and repeat offenders off our streets and out of our communities.”

In addition, the feds will be investing in law enforcement, hiring a thousand new RCMP personnel.

“I believe Ottawa is listening to cities like Winnipeg, Portage La Prairie, Brandon, and Thompson,” said Mayor Gillingham.

“We need legislative changes. I’m glad to hear today’s announcement.”

Mayor Gillingham has been pushing Ottawa for changes over the past weeks and months, creating a weekly repeat offender bulletin highlighting cases where people charged with serious crimes were released on bail only to reoffend. 

Next Tuesday, he will testify in front of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

“There are cases where, the last case I shared, an individual was granted bail several times. When they were finally arrested for the final time, it was only after they had shot a zip gun into a street, nearly missing someone,” said Gillingham.

According to the PM, the bill will introduce reverse onus, allow consecutive sentencing, restrict conditional sentences for a range of sexual offences, and impose harsher penalties

“I appreciate the few bullets that he did lay out, the details are important so we’ll have to wait until the legislation is introduced so we can understand the details of what all will be included in the legislative changes.”