It's an honour to be here at the justice committee. I once sat on this committee as a parliamentarian. I know the important work that you undertake. I'm heartened to hear that you are having this extensive look at bail reform in our country. We have a bail system in Canada that is tragically broken, and it is very encouraging to hear that it is being addressed with the attention that it deserves.
I represent a city where I believe public safety is the number one issue—in Brampton and in Peel region. I see that through my responsibilities not only as mayor of the city but also as a member of the Peel Police Services Board. For the last five years, we've had a campaign for bail reform. We launched a petition, and we have had it as our number one advocacy point in Ottawa.
What started this campaign was the tragedy of Darian Henderson-Bellman, who lost her life to five shots from her former intimate partner. This individual was released on bail five times. It was a preventable tragedy.
More recently—and I say tragically—every few months we hear about another example of this. After Darian Henderson-Bellman, we said that never again would a preventable tragedy like this happen, but that hasn't been the case.
Just a few weeks ago, we paid witness to the tragedy of Savannah Kulla. Savannah Kulla had her life taken by a former intimate partner who had a history of violence and firearms offences. The fact that he was released to take her life is a tragedy that shook our community, and it's why I believe that the bail reform presented is so necessary for the country. We have the same criminals committing the same crimes again and again. It has become a revolving door.
We even had one instance in Peel region that the chief of police told me about where someone was released for stealing a car, and then they stole a car from the parking lot of the courthouse in Brampton. On talk radio, they were laughing about it, but it's no laughing matter for those whose security has been pierced.
I wanted to share some statistics with you. I did some research in advance of this testimony.
In Peel region, 66% of those who have firearms offences had been released on bail. Two-thirds of individuals who committed firearms offences were released. Someone who commits an offence with a firearm should not be released. These are people who have terrorized the community, and the seriousness of a firearm offence should be treated as such.
I also wanted to note that I understand that it's not simply the Criminal Code. We have serious challenges to correctional capacity and judicial resources. I wanted to put that on the record as well. We are short Crowns. We're short interpreters. Too often at Maplehurst, our local correctional facility, the inn is full. There is no capacity to send additional inmates. Almost every case in Peel region is given additional credit when it comes to sentencing, because of the challenges of the system.
My plea today, on behalf of my residents, is that this robust bill legislation needs to be passed. Whether there are amendments that are required to strengthen it, I don't believe public safety should be a partisan issue. Let's make sure this bill is as strong as possible and that we give residents in Peel region and, frankly, Canadians across the country the peace of mind they deserve.
In talking to frontline officers, you know how frustrating it is for them to have their hard work wasted when an individual they've spent hundreds of hours on is released. I look at Project 24Karat, where we had this massive expense for the Peel police in the largest gold heist in Canadian history. Everyone who was charged in Canada was released. The individual who was charged in the U.S. is still in custody. There are too many examples like that.
I wish this legislation could be adopted immediately in the House of Commons so we don't see any more of that frustration, that anger that I hear from police, who see their time wasted.
Frankly, I hate getting the phone calls from parents who lose a loved one. Savannah Kulla's father called me, saying that he saw the Darian Henderson-Bellman tragedy on the news, and he said, “I hope this never happens to my family.”
I spoke to Darian Henderson-Bellman's parents as well. They spoke at our Peel Regional Police victim symposium, which we hosted for the first time this year, to really amplify the need for bail reform. Talking to parents who have lost a loved one when that loss should never have happened is tough.
I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to say a few words. Thank you for paying attention to a topic that is so critical to Canadians.