B.C. government outlines hopes for federal bail reform

The B.C. government is outlining what it hopes to see when the federal government makes adjustments to the country’s bail system this spring.

The system has been characterized by critics as “catch and release” by B.C.’s opposition and in other provinces.

However, the Criminal Code is under the control of the federal government, with changes expected in the coming months.

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B.C. Attorney General Niki Sharma is hopeful the changes will address concerns around repeat violent offenders.

“What we advocated for and hope to see is the broadest level of changes in terms of repeat, violent offenders so that would help to stem the kind of tide of random stranger attacks or things that are happening on a regular basis,” she said in a news conference.

“We advocated for the broadest interpretation of repeat violent offenders so whether that’s random violence, random attacks with or without a weapon, that individuals that have been shown to make their communities unsafe due to violence should have the onus of being held, unless there’s a good reason to release them before trial.”

Sharma adds that she hopes any changes will not further impact marginalized communities in Canada.

“We also came to the table, this is across the country, with a firm agreement that any changes would need to ensure that the over-incarceration of Indigenous people, people of colour and Black people was not impacted and wasn’t made worse,” she said.

Minister @mikefarnworthbc and I met with Federal and Provincial representatives to discuss the Canadian bail system and how to better address the challenges that face it.

We also discussed the way our current system responds to repeat violent offenders. @DavidLametti pic.twitter.com/nky4Jmlr5s

— Niki Sharma (@NikiSharma2) March 10, 2023

The country’s bail system has been in the crosshairs of premiers, federal Conservatives and law enforcement leaders, which have pushed since the beginning of the year to make bail more restrictive.

A January letter from all 13 premiers to the prime minister called for a “reverse onus” system for some offences, which would require a person seeking bail to prove why they should not stay behind bars.

What exactly is going to change hasn’t yet been finalized. Federal Justice Minister David Lametti says the prime minister and cabinet ministers still need to provide input.

-With files from The Canadian Press