Premiers Vow to Hold Prime Minister Carney's Feet to the Fire on Bail Reform
Provincial leaders are vowing to push Prime Minister Mark Carney's federal government to implement tougher bail rules for violent crimes like home invasions. The premiers, who met for their annual Council of the Federation meeting in Ontario, are calling for real bail reform that keeps communities safe. With federal bail reform legislation expected this fall, premiers are determined to hold Carney accountable and make bail rules more stringent.
Key Takeaways:
- Premier Doug Ford, chair of the Council of the Federation, stated that premiers will hold Carney accountable for bail reform, citing the need for real bail reform that keeps criminals behind bars.
- Ford also called for mandatory sentencing for violent crimes, such as home invasions, and criticized "weak-kneed judges" for releasing repeat offenders on bail.
- New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt agreed on the importance of tougher restrictions on bail for people who commit violent crimes.
- British Columbia Premier David Eby voiced support for a crackdown on bail for intimate partner violence and called for GPS tracking to protect victims.
- The premiers committed to erasing most interprovincial trade and labour mobility barriers by December, making it easier and cheaper for consumers and workers to operate across the country.
- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith stated that the US is looking to do more sectoral agreements in areas such as automobiles and aluminum before fully renegotiating the Canada-US-Mexico free trade agreement.
Statistics:
- 5 times: the number of times Premier Ford mentioned the need for bail reform to keep communities safe
- $26 billion: the amount Ontario pays into the federal equalization program more than it gets back
- 2 years: the length of time asylum-seekers often wait for federal work permits
- 95: the section of the Constitution used by premiers to issue their own work permits
- 88%: the percentage of federal funding that has declined over the years