NIKI Sharma, Attorney General, and Nina Krieger, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, released statements in response to the introduction of new, proposed Criminal Code amendments and public safety commitments by the federal government on Thursday.
Sharma said: “The federal government’s announcement today of new measures to amend the Criminal Code and other federal statutes are a promising step toward keeping people safe and holding perpetrators accountable. Many of the actions reflect proposals our government put forward to better protect people from repeat violent offenders and strengthen public safety.
“British Columbia has led the country in calling for reforms that put public safety first, including bail decisions that better reflect risk, impose stronger consequences for repeat and violent offenders and provide better protections for victims of intimate-partner and gender-based violence. The federal government’s proposed amendments reflect many of the priorities B.C. has championed, such as reverse-onus bail in high-risk cases and expanded sentencing tools for serious repeat offences, ensuring that bail determinations consider both the seriousness and the number of past offences, better tools to address extortion and a sharper focus on harms and intimate-partner violence, such as strangulation, suffocation and choking.
“In my letters to Sean Fraser, federal Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, earlier this year, I urged changes for post-conviction bail, not just for violent offenders, but for the repeat offenders who are placing a major strain on local police time and resources. I’m pleased to see that this input is reflected in the legislation introduced today, showing our shared commitment to keeping communities safe.
“Today’s announcement reflects the strong collaborative relationship between our two governments, but our work continues. We will monitor the implementation of these federal reforms closely to assess whether they are working as intended.
“While the bill includes some protections for victims of intimate-partner violence, I will continue to advocate for stronger protections. The circumstances that led to the tragic death of Bailey McCourt should never happen again. That’s why we’re pleased that the federal government followed through on our request for a new reverse onus following a finding of guilt for a charge of assault or sexual assault involving choking, suffocating or strangulation. McCourt’s murder is a painful reminder of what’s at stake and of the urgent need to hold perpetrators accountable and protect those at risk.
“At the provincial level, we are actively working through the recommendations outlined in Dr. Kim Stanton’s independent report, which highlighted the need for inter-agency information sharing and consistent risk assessment. We will provide an update on our progress in addressing these recommendations in the coming weeks. The federal government has indicated that further gender-based violence reforms are coming later this year, and we will continue to press them for strong measures.
“Together, we remain focused on building a justice system in British Columbia that is fair and equitable, responsive and protective, and above all, keeps people safe in their homes, businesses and communities.”
KRIEGER said: “I welcome the federal government’s introduction of new legislation aimed at keeping people safe, providing better tools to address serious crimes like extortion and organized retail theft that harm businesses and critical infrastructure, and ultimately, strengthening community safety across the country.
“Our government has long been calling on the federal government to take meaningful action to ensure stronger consequences for those who repeatedly cause harm in our communities. Police in our province are too often arresting the same individuals for repeat offences, only to see them quickly return to the streets to offend once again. These proposed changes are an important step toward reinforcing public safety and restoring confidence in our justice system.
“I was pleased to hear Sean Fraser, federal Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, confirm that the new federal legislation will include stiffer sentencing for violent and repeat offenders, crimes committed against first responders, organized retail theft and theft that harms essential infrastructure, as well as include tighter bail.
“This legislation supports the federal government’s plan to hire 1,000 new RCMP personnel over the next four years, which will strengthen policing capacity and police operations on the ground. I will be working closely with my federal counterpart to ensure B.C. receives its fair share of these new officers.
“We all share the same goal of strengthening public safety and ensuring that people can live free from violence. While this legislation is a step in the right direction, our government will continue advancing initiatives at the provincial level that support police in protecting our communities, such as the Specialized Investigation and Targeted Enforcement program and the Repeat Violent Offender Intervention initiative.
“In the coming weeks and months, our government will do its part by working closely with our federal counterparts and engaging with law enforcement agencies and justice partners to map out how these changes will be implemented here in B.C. We will monitor the impacts of these reforms carefully to ensure they achieve their intended outcomes and make our communities safer.
“Our government remains committed to doing everything we can to make B.C. a safe and welcoming province by supporting police and holding repeat offenders to account so people feel secure in their communities.”
