Thank you.
This is again making a change to proposed subsection 515(2.021) to ensure that:
Before making an order requiring that the accused have a surety, the justice shall cause notice to be given to the accused and be satisfied that the condition to have a surety is necessary.
This two-step process must be determined by a justice before the accused is required to secure one. It was strongly recommended by the Canadian Civil Liberties Association that by bifurcating the bail hearing it would better implement the latter principle in bail courts. In some jurisdictions, defence counsel is often required to call for a potential surety before the Crown even establishes that one is necessary. The effect of this is to disproportionately impact accused from remote communities, particularly indigenous accused.
I hope you will consider having this two-step process to ensure it's really necessary.
(Amendment negatived)