Evidence of meeting #51 for Justice and Human Rights in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was accused.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Bloc
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Carrique, I would like to briefly come back to a topic I touched on earlier.
In your opinion, is there a direct link between a conditional release, the repeal of certain minimum sentences and authorizing conditional sentences for crimes such as sexual assault, for example?
Is there a connection here? Does this complicate your work or increase the crime rate?
Commissioner, Ontario Provincial Police
Without having looked statistically at the components other than bail release, I can't say conclusively, but I can tell you anecdotally that my professional opinion is yes.
Bloc
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
Thank you, Mr. Carrique.
I have no other questions, Mr. Chair.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Randeep Sarai
Thank you, Monsieur Fortin.
We'll next go to Mr. Garrison for two and a half minutes.
Randall Garrison NDP Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
It's always a difficult line of questioning to somebody who supervised an officer who died.
How have you found the response of people like us who you've been talking to? Do you feel like you're being heard in your demands for change?
Commissioner, Ontario Provincial Police
Absolutely, I do. I think this is testament to the demands for change being heard.
This is the second standing committee that I have appeared before in the last two weeks. There was a provincial standing committee prior to this.
For the first time, to my knowledge, in the history of our country, we had all premiers unite in a single piece of correspondence to our Prime Minister, asking for bail reform.
I think Canadians, overwhelmingly, are supportive of the changes we are asking for. They overwhelmingly support our police and recognize how difficult a job they have. They know they need the proper judicial infrastructure in place to maintain their safety and security.
NDP
Randall Garrison NDP Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, BC
Thank you. I'm very glad to hear that.
Of course, you know that all parties here on the justice committee agreed that this was a problem that we needed to deal with and deal with quickly.
Thank you for being here tonight.
Commissioner, Ontario Provincial Police
Thank you for the opportunity.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Randeep Sarai
Thank you, Mr. Garrison. That concludes our round.
I also want to express my condolences on your loss. For me personally, my brother-in-law is a police officer; my two best friends are police officers, and I grew up in a family with police officers all over. We can only imagine the pressure. We are all here together to figure out a way to make sure this doesn't ever happen again.
We thank you for your testimony and your very clear and concise opinion and message on this. Thank you.
That concludes the meeting. We are now adjourned.