Thank you, Mr. Chair and members of the committee.
Just as I begin, Mr. and Mrs. Best, I would just like to commend you for your courage and the strength that you've shown in the face of the unimaginable loss of your daughter, Kellie. My sincere condolences go to you, to your family and to all those families who have been impacted as a result of violence committed by repeat and violent offenders.
I want to thank the committee for the opportunity to appear here today on behalf of the Police Association of Ontario, representing more than 32,000 uniformed and civilian police personnel from 46 police associations right across the province, including the Brantford Police Association. Our members are the dedicated men and women who serve on the front lines, keeping our communities safe every single day.
Today I am here to address challenges that threaten public safety—our current bail system. As it stands, bail practices often allow violent and repeat offenders to be released back to the very neighbourhoods they have harmed, undermining public confidence and draining police resources. This is more than a procedural flaw. It is a cycle that emboldens offenders, increases community risk and perpetrates a dangerous pattern of apprehension, release and reoffending.
The frustration our members feel is echoed by the communities they serve. To many, the justice system has become more than a revolving door. It feels as though the door has been left wide open.
Recent data is cause for concern. Between 2019 and 2023, violent Criminal Code violations in Ontario increased by 20%. Nearly half of convicted offenders reoffend within three years, and violent repeat offences are on the rise. These numbers, combined with first-hand accounts from our members and victims, underscore the anxiety and frustration felt by Ontarians and the immense challenges facing those sworn to protect them.
The Police Association of Ontario has long advocated for practical, charter-compliant bail reform. We have called for evidence-based changes such as expanding the list of reverse onus offences to include violent auto theft, home invasions, human trafficking and more, lengthening the review period for prior convictions, and ensuring that the courts rigorously scrutinize bail plans before release. These are not abstract proposals. They are grounded in the realities that our members and community members face every day.
Both major political parties have recognized the urgency of bail reform. Public safety is not a partisan issue. Well-designed bail reform that balances charter rights with community protection is in everyone's interest.
The introduction of Bill C-14, the bail and sentencing reform act introduced last Thursday, October 23, marks a significant and long-awaited step forward. The bill addresses urgent shortcomings in our bail system. Its provisions—including new reverse onus rules for violent organized crime, stronger bail conditions and tougher sentencing for repeat violent offenders—respond directly to concerns raised by our members for years. This is an encouraging sign that the voices of frontline officers and the communities we serve are finally being heard at the highest level. These proposed reforms reflect the lived realities of our members, the experiences of victims and the expectations of the public, and they send a clear message that repeat and violent offending will not be tolerated in Ontario or across Canada.
Let me be clear. Without meaningful change, the safety of our communities and the lives of police officers and the public remain at an unacceptable level of risk. Each release of a violent offender increases the risk of tragedy in our communities. Ontario cannot wait for more lives to be put in jeopardy. Decisive action is needed now. We urge all parties to pass Bill C-14 immediately. Every day that this vital legislation is used as a political bargaining chip or a sound bite during question period leaves real lives on the line. Mothers, daughters, fathers, sons, sisters, brothers, friends and families across Ontario deserve action, not politics.
On behalf of the 46 police associations that we very proudly represent, I thank the Government of Canada for taking concrete steps to strengthen public safety and support those who work every day to protect it. Ontario's police personnel will continue to do our part in our communities, in the courts and on the front lines to keep people safe. We look forward to working together to ensure that these reforms are implemented effectively and deliver the results that Ontarians and Canadians expect and deserve. Together, we can and we must build safer communities and ensure that these reforms deliver a justice system that protects victims, not offenders.
Thank you.