Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise this evening to speak about Canada's bail system and to respond to the member opposite, who asked whether the Minister of Justice had specific timelines for introducing bail and sentencing reforms, which is a commitment we were elected on and promised to Canadians with the mandate they gave us.
As the member pointed out, last week, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada introduced Bill C-14, the bail and sentencing reform act. The even greater news is that Bill C-14 was already at second reading today in the chamber.
Earlier this afternoon, the Minister of Justice spoke about how the bill would crack down on repeat violent offenders, making it harder to get bail and toughen sentences. Bill C-14 would strengthen Canada's bail and sentencing system to better protect public safety and prevent repeat offenders. It would require courts to consider random or unprovoked violence in bail decisions and would clarify that restraint does not mandate automatic release. For serious and repeat violent crimes, new reverse onus rules would make the accused responsible to justify release rather than the Crown having to prove the grounds for detention. In regard to sentencing reform, Bill C-14 would add new aggravating factors, require consecutive sentences for certain serious offences and end the use of house arrest for serious sexual crimes, including those against children.
Regarding the member opposite's question on the timeline for this bill, it is important to note that reforms of this magnitude, over 80 amendments to the Criminal Code, require careful and thorough consultation. Let us recall what the Leader of the Opposition was doing all summer. He was targeting his own MP's seat to protect his job. At the same time, what was the Minister of Justice doing? He was targeting repeat violent offenders and building consensus among provinces, territories, police associations and victim groups to develop real, practical solutions. That consensus is what led to Bill C-14. For the first time, we have national consensus, with Conservative, New Democrat and Liberal premiers alike all calling for the swift passage of this bill. When every province and territory welcomes a federal justice reform system, and I mean everyone, that is not politics; that is partnership and that is leadership.
Finally, while Parliament sets the laws on bail, provinces and territories run the system, conducting most hearings and enforcing release conditions. All levels of government share responsibility for making bail work. We are doing our job with these sweeping reforms, and now provinces need to do theirs. The government remains committed to working closely with them to strengthen the system and keep Canadians safe.
Bill C-14 is balanced, principled and firm. It targets repeat violent offenders, strengthens community safety and upholds the rule of law. This is real reform, not rhetoric. This is leadership that unites and does not divide, which is exactly what Canadians expect and what they deserve.