Debates of Nov. 18th, 2025

Bail and Sentencing Reform Act

[Warren Steinley, Conservative, Regina—Lewvan, SK]

Mr. Speaker, we are discussing bail reform. One thing from the Liberals' side of the aisle that I find amazing is that they think there is an act of God and they need to reform these laws. They do not finish the answer and say we need bail reform because they have bungled this file over the last 10 years. Bill C-5 and Bill C-75 are the reasons we need bail reform.

They messed it up. Why should we think they are the ones who can fix it?

[Sandra Cobena, Conservative, Newmarket—Aurora, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I agree with my colleague. This is a direct result of 10 years of the Liberal government's weak bail laws. These are the consequences our communities are living through.

It is a bit hypocritical that the Liberals appear to feel so strongly about it, when we, the Conservatives, put the jail not bail act forward for a vote and they voted against it.

[Éric Lefebvre, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we are here today to speak to Bill C-14, an act to amend the Criminal Code, the Youth Criminal Justice Act and the National Defence Act regarding bail and sentencing.

Canadians have waited a long time for the Liberal government to take serious measures to end violence in communities across the country. Since 2015, this government has chosen to let violent offenders walk free rather than protect innocent Canadians. The reality is that there are now more dangerous criminals on our streets and in our communities, which are becoming less and less safe.

Unfortunately, there are countless victims. Savannah Rose Kulla-Davies, a mother of four, was killed by a criminal released on bail in Brampton. Bailey McCourt was killed just three hours after a criminal was released on bail in Kelowna. Hung Trang and Ban Phuc Hoang were killed by a criminal released on bail in Edmonton. In Manitoba, a criminal killed his sister while out on bail. Out of respect for those victims and their families, Bill C‑14 needs to go further. We must do it for them, in their memory, to prevent further victimization.

In his comments on violent repeat offenders in Winnipeg, Winnipeg mayor Scott Gillingham said that these figures confirm what frontline officers see every day, namely that it is always the same people who go through the justice system, committing violent crimes over and over again. After numerous warnings to this government, I am still a little perplexed. Conservatives on this side of the House have been asking Liberals to abandon their bail plan for years. Why did they wait so long?

A number of years ago, the Liberals passed bills C‑5 and C‑75. These two bills caused crime to skyrocket and made our communities less safe. Bill C‑5, which repealed certain mandatory minimum penalties, eliminated mandatory prison sentences for serious firearm- and drug-related offences. Bill C‑75, the Liberal catch-and-release bill, granted bail to repeat violent offenders. These bills form the foundation of the Liberals' soft-on-crime plan. It is hard to believe that a government would deliberately pass legislation that reduces prison terms for the most dangerous members of our society. The result is that Canada is less safe today than it was when the Liberals came into office.

Numbers do not lie. Here are some statistics on how the situation has evolved since 2015. Violent crime is up 55%. Gun-related crime is up 130%. Extortion has exploded, increasing by 330% all across Canada. Sexual assaults are up 76%. Homicides are up 29%. I think most Canadians would agree with me that this has been one of the greatest failures, if the not single greatest failure, of this Liberal government.

In early October, our Conservative team moved a motion asking the House of Commons to immediately pass the bill introduced by my colleague, the hon. member for Oxford, Bill C‑242, or the jail not bail act. Unsurprisingly, the Liberals voted against the motion. That is another clear sign that they do not take this matter seriously. For more than seven months now, the Prime Minister has been promising to reform the bail system in Canada. By not voting in favour of our motion, he continues to delay the implementation of measures that would make our streets safer. Canadians have waited long enough.

While I am pleased that we are talking about these matters, Bill C‑14 still does not go far enough to protect our communities.

Firstly, the principle of restraint remains intact, which preserves the existing bail culture. We must strengthen our criminal justice system to ensure that the most violent offenders in Canada cannot be released. Secondly, the mandatory minimum sentences that were repealed by Bill C‑5 have not been reinstated. We must repeal Bill C‑5 in order to guarantee that criminals who commit firearm-related offences, sexual assaults or kidnappings, or who engage in human trafficking, are given prison terms instead of house arrest.

The Liberals have weakened our bail system, putting criminals back on our streets. They have made our communities less safe, unfortunately. Their solution is to introduce a bill that begins to address the problem, but ultimately does not go far enough. It does not truly solve the crisis facing Canadians. It does not fix the broken bail system.

The same goes for Bill C‑4, making life more affordable for Canadians act. Starting in 2015, the Liberal government created a cost of living crisis. That is what happens when a government runs one inflationary deficit after another.

I hope that Bill C‑14 will be different and that the Liberals will agree to our amendments. Unfortunately, I doubt they will.

The Conservatives fought to undo the Liberals' decision on bail. I am proud of my colleagues who do battle daily to make our communities safer. There is still a lot to do to fix everything this Liberal government messed up, and Bill C‑14 is just the beginning. Unfortunately, it does not go far enough.

My priority will always be to build safer communities. I appreciate the work being done to reduce violence, but we need to do more for the victims I named earlier today.

The Conservative call to strengthen our bail system is part of our plan to stop crime and make our communities safer. Our plan includes a number of priorities that we would like to see the government implement.

We would like to see a “three strikes and you're out” law to keep the most dangerous criminals behind bars. Everyone agrees that the most dangerous criminals should be kept off our streets.

We would also like to see mandatory minimum sentences for repeat offenders. After three strikes, we propose that repeat offenders receive a minimum sentence of 10 years. That is part of our plan to incarcerate the most dangerous people in our society longer and give them time to rehabilitate.

We would like to see repeat offenders designated as dangerous offenders. That means they could only be released after demonstrating good behaviour and abstaining from all drug use. That should also include training to upgrade their skills to allow them to contribute as proud members of society and get their lives in our great country back on track.

Repeat offenders are dangerous. That is why they should only be released when they no longer pose a threat to our society. For the safety of all Canadians and for the future of our children, we need to go further than what Bill C‑14 proposes.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I really appreciated the comments my colleague made on the condition of this bill and on the recommendations. I am sure, as he has been listening, that he has heard a member across the way constantly ask if we are ready to do this because we are in a crisis.

Having been here for a decade now, I can tell members that what the government does is delay and deny, until finally Canadians have had enough and it starts to act. We are now finally acting, to some degree, on these terrible bills, Bill C-5 and Bill C-75.

What does he think the government has done in lieu of doing the work it should have been doing to get this bill in front of the House over five years ago?

[Éric Lefebvre, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Speaker, of course the government should have introduced a bill and dealt with this issue a long time ago.

In my speech today, I named some of the people who became victims all because the Liberals have allowed this problem related to the Criminal Code to drag on. Unfortunately, some innocent victims lost their lives. Now, let us do what we must to move forward and work to improve Bill C‑14.

The government definitely needs to go further than what it has presented us with.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, members of the Conservative Party of Canada have demonstrated inside the House that they have absolutely no shame. They do not understand, nor do they appreciate, that this was an election platform issue. We have provinces, municipalities and many stakeholders, including law enforcement officers, that want to see Bill C-14 passed.

The Conservatives have come up with lame excuses to try to to justify the inappropriate, disrespectful speeches they have provided to date and to try to justify that they do not want to see this legislation passed before Christmas. I find that sad and unfortunate. Canadians will pass judgment at some point in time on their behaviour and their rejection of bail reform legislation.

Can the member justify to his constituents why they will not pass this legislation before the end of the year?

[Éric Lefebvre, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Speaker, with all due respect to my colleague, I find that rather amusing. The Liberals have been in power for 10 years and have done nothing for the past five years. They have suddenly seen the light at the end of the tunnel and want to get this done in three months. They did nothing for 10 years, and now they want us to rush this bill through because they suddenly woke up.

I have to insist that Canadians be shown a little respect. We have to get this right.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I wonder if the member can reflect on the fact that we have stakeholders, as I have indicated, like law enforcement, the provinces and municipalities, and Canadians in general, that want bail reform legislation. The Prime Minister and every Liberal member of Parliament want to see this legislation pass before the end of the year.

Does the member not recognize that instead of Conservatives putting the political best interests of the Conservative Party first, they should put the interests of Canadians first, allow this bill to go to committee and allow it to pass before the end of the year?

[Éric Lefebvre, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I will give the same answer. This government has been doing nothing for 10 years. We have been calling on the government to get the job done for five years. Now the Liberals have suddenly seen the light and they hope to get this bill passed in three months.

We will take no lessons from the Liberal government. On this side of the House, we take our jobs seriously. We are working for Canadians. That is what we will continue to do.

[Marilyn Gladu, Conservative, Sarnia—Lambton—Bkejwanong, ON]

Mr. Speaker, that was an excellent speech. The real problem with Bill C-14 is that it does not remove the principle of the least restrictive punishment at the earliest possible opportunity. That is the problem, and it is the reason this bill is not going to fix crime. Would the member agree?

[Éric Lefebvre, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Speaker, that is precisely one of the reasons why we need to improve this bill. We cannot pass it as it now stands, like the Liberals want us to do. They have done nothing for five years. We will work to improve this bill to keep Canadians safe.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for the opportunity to rise today realizing the gravity of this debate for millions of Canadians.

For those who are new to the country, which at some point most of us were or our ancestors were, Canada was once a safe harbour with a reasonable guarantee that someone could live out life free from harassment, harm or extortion. That meant peaceful communities where front doors were often left unlocked, and people had little fear of having their car stolen while they slept. It meant they could enjoy Canada's vibrant city life knowing that streets were safe and that stopping illegal drugs and firearms was a priority. It meant the most dangerous criminals were kept behind bars, where they belonged, not continually passing through a revolving door, going from our courts to back out on the streets. It meant we had a federal government that protected families from these harms through the strictest possible laws while ensuring they were enforced in our courts.

After 10 years of the Liberal government, the reality is much different. Terrible legislation, like Bill C-5 and Bill C-75, demonstrates that the consequences of reckless ideological Liberal policies are real.

Since 2015, violent crime is up 55%, firearms crime is up 130%, extortion has exploded 330%, sexual assaults have risen 76% and homicides are up 29%. In fact, a new report just released by the Macdonald-Laurier Institute analyzed crime data from 20 metropolitan areas representing nearly two-thirds of Canada's population. It found that Canada's violent crime rate has climbed steadily since the middle of the last decade. It has been an era defined by lenient bail, soft-on-crime persecution and police resources stretched way too thin. As stated in the report:

...the latest evidence suggests that the problem is broader and more entrenched than many realize. Policymakers can no longer rely on temporary explanations or regional anomalies. The challenge now is to restore public confidence and measurable accountability in how we protect our cities.

What logical government would stand by the policies that have resulted in a prolonged nationwide crime wave? Sadly, obstruction and inaction have been the Liberal approach for the better part of a decade. However, bills like Bill C-14 prove that determined and principled opposition can be effective in spurring change. This bill is a rare Liberal admission that the Liberals' criminal justice reforms have failed. While it is a step in the right direction of the Conservative approach to bail and sentencing, it does not repeal the principle of restraint or restore mandatory minimum sentences.

What drove the government to finally introduce Bill C-14? Bill C-75, in 2019, codified the principle of restraint, requiring law enforcement and courts to release accused individuals at the earliest reasonable opportunity and under the least onerous conditions. This effectively created a catch-and-release system, subjecting communities to dangerous offenders while they awaited trial. Bill C-5, in 2022, went further, scrapping several mandatory minimum sentences and liberalizing the use of house arrest for serious offences such as sexual assault.

Bill C-14, the bill we are debating today, makes a start at addressing the serious implications of Bill C-75 and Bill C-5. It clarifies that the principle of restraint would not require an offender's outright release. It also directs courts to take into account the number and gravity of charges facing the accused when determining bail. With Bill C-14, there is an incentive for those who have abused our justice system and grown accustomed to getting away with multiple serious crimes with little or no repercussions to think twice. There are other encouraging elements of the bill, such as requiring consecutive sentences for repeat auto theft, breaking and entering, extortion and arson offences.

The purpose of sentencing has been refocused on the protection of the Canadian public, at least to some degree, rather than solely on the rehabilitation of the offender. When sentencing, a judge must consider a new aggravating factor involving repeat violent behaviour over the last five years. The bill would also partially reverse Bill C-5's expansion of house arrest eligibility.

Yes, there are many beams of light in the bill that attempt to break through the stormy skies of the last six years of a soft-on-crime agenda. However, it comes up short. The fact is that dangerous elements of the Liberal ideology on crime and punishment remain. Bill C-14 is not an outright repeal of the principle of restraint, and it would not restore mandatory minimums. It is truly a missed opportunity to toughen up penalties for serious violent offences. While consecutive sentences and aggravating factors are useful, they are still left to judicial discretion when applying them.

Why does it matter that we get the bill right? All major urban centres have seen an increase in violent crime, but so have our smaller cities and rural communities across Manitoba, Alberta and my home province of Saskatchewan.

There is simply no more time to waste. Canadians no longer feel safe in their communities. Every day that passes without a return to a common-sense approach to crime puts more innocent Canadians at risk. A Postmedia-Leger poll shows growing concern among Canadians about personal safety and the effectiveness of their justice system: 51% say they worry about safety in their neighbourhoods, including the risk of a home invasion. Concern is highest among young people aged 35 to 54, a group that is most likely to have families and own homes.

A striking 87% of Canadians believe they have the right to use reasonable force against an intruder, a number that climbs to 92% in Saskatchewan and Manitoba and among those 55 years and older. Leger executive vice-president Andrew Enns notes that this sentiment is long-standing but significant, warning that widespread distrust in the justice system can erode respect for the law. Certainly, criminals do not respect or fear these laws, whereas innocent Canadians are living in fear and facing consequences.

Overall, 54% believe that the justice system works against law-abiding citizens, while only 29% think it protects Canadians. That is a sad and regrettable reflection on the ability of the Liberal government to inspire confidence in its system of justice, but it is well deserved. The Liberals have consistently ignored police, municipalities, business owners and, above all, law-abiding Canadians in standing by policies that fail to keep us safe. Members should note that I said they “consistently ignored”, not that they failed to see or grasp the increased breadth of violent crime erupting across Canada over the last decade of their Liberal rule.

Unfortunately for residents of the James Smith Cree Nation in my home province, this reality is beyond real. On September 4, 2022, a mass stabbing spree unfolded across 13 locations in the Cree Nation and the nearby village of Weldon.

Myles Sanderson killed 11 people and wounded 17. He had 59 previous criminal convictions, including for assault with a weapon, robbery and threats. He had been granted statutory release in August 2021 after serving a sentence, but by May 2022 he was unlawfully at large after failing to keep in touch with his parole officer. In the wake of this tragedy, many questions surrounded the decisions of the court, the parole board and Corrections Canada. What rationale validates repeatedly releasing this violent criminal from custody despite his dozens of convictions?

Another tragedy unfolded this September at the Hollow Water First Nation, where 26-year-old Tyrone Simard, known to police and our courts, went on a horrifying rampage. He stabbed eight people across two homes in Hollow Water, killing his own 18-year-old sister, Marina, and injuring seven others.

Why was he out on bail? Three months earlier, he had been charged with assault with a weapon and mischief. A Winnipeg court released him just four days later with these conditions: a curfew, no alcohol or drugs, no weapons and, heartbreakingly, no contact with his sister. He violated every one of those conditions. He returned to Marina's home and took her life.

The law did not adequately protect Marina or the people of Hollow Water First Nation, James Smith Cree Nation or the village of Weldon. The Liberal system designed for restraint and lighter sentences has not served public safety. The government needs to remove Bill C-5 and Bill C-75 and strengthen Bill C-14, to repair the damage, in memory of those who have lost their lives and those left behind with horrific memories.

This House must replace restraint with a public safety primacy clause. Ensuring public and community safety is the governing principle of courts across our lands. We must restore mandatory minimum sentences for firearms offences, sexual offences, repeat violent offences and drug offences. Conditional sentence eligibility must exclude robbery, firearms trafficking and offences by chronic offenders.

It is not too late for the government to adopt the full Conservative plan to stop their decade of turning a blind eye to the rampant chaos, crime and disorder that Bill C-75 and Bill C-5 have encouraged. Bill C-14 must be the beginning of a full restoration of this country's promise of safety and prosperity for Canadians, wherever they live.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, as I have indicated, whether among provinces, municipalities, different stakeholders or law enforcement officers, people understand and they want to see Bill C-14 move forward. Canadians want bail reform legislation. The Conservatives are being motivated by another factor.

We have the leader of the Conservative Party, who has referred to “extreme bloodshed and violence”. We have the MP for Oxford, who said, “We are now living in a war zone in Canada.” They are using these radical statements in order to generate funds. They are putting the raising of funds and their own political interests ahead of Canadian interests.

Will the member opposite not recognize that it is about time the Conservative Party starts focusing more on Canadians, as opposed to their own leadership and the Conservative Party of Canada, and allows the legislation to pass before the end of the year? Will she support that?

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Mr. Speaker, there is a tiny bit of truth in some words in there. Canadians are desperate to have the government do the right thing. The bill has some good in it, but it is not responding to those very people he is saying are calling on the government to do the right thing, which is to shut down the legislation in Bill C-5 and Bill C-75. This is what they want. They want an outright repeal of the principle of restraint, and they want restoration of mandatory minimums.

[Warren Steinley, Conservative, Regina—Lewvan, SK]

Mr. Speaker, what I just heard from the member for Winnipeg North is laughable. There is not a more partisan politician in this chamber. He would do anything for the Liberal Party of Canada. This includes absolutely ensuring that everything looks good from their point of view. The only reason we need bail reform is that this member and the rest of the Liberals passed terrible legislation for the last 10 years, making our streets unsafe. It is unconscionable for him to stand there and say we need to reform, we need to reform, when they were the ones who messed up the justice system in the first place. A Supreme Court ruling that allowed people who had child abuse pictures and videos to get a one-year sentence is unconscionable, and any member of Parliament who does not think that is not right should not be here.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I concur with the member and all the things he just said. This individual seems to want to convince Canadians that the Liberals are on the right track, when they have been in the House hearing this side of the floor, over and over and over, talk about the issues with Bill C-5 and Bill C-75, which have caused the rampant, high levels of crime across our nation. People in Canada are calling on the government to do the right thing, not just to do a little bit of something rather than remove all the things that are causing the greatest angst in this country that I have seen in the 10 years I have been here.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the member avoided answering the question, which was very straightforward. Canadians expect to see bail reform legislation. The only reason we will not see bail reform legislation is that the Conservative Party is more focused on its own personal fundraising and its own political interest. This is the only reason, the only reason Canadians will not be able to see bail reform legislation.

Does she not see, in reflecting on her constituents, that the Conservatives need to reverse their policy?

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I represent Saskatchewan. I think the member knows how absolutely ridiculous that last statement was. There is no question, across this country, that what the people of Canada want is for the government to finally step up and do the right thing. If the member can assure me they will include amendments that remove Bill C-5 and Bill C-75 from legislation, I will gladly support their bill.

They are not representing Canadians. They are not supporting Canadians. They are not answering the call of Canadians for protection and lowered crime in this country, which they basically caused the impetus for with Bill C-5 and Bill C-75.

[Doug Shipley, Conservative, Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON]

Mr. Speaker, just quickly, I have been here this morning for a couple of hours, and I have heard the members opposite from the Liberal government talking about bail reform. Maybe the member on our side, the Conservative side, could answer this since she has been here for over 10 years.

Who has been in power for the last two years? What do the words “bail reform” mean, and why are we sitting here talking about bail reform after someone has been in charge for 10 years?

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Mr. Speaker, well, 20 seconds to say this is easy. The reason we are talking about bail reform is because these people did a terrible job of bringing in legislation, which has caused incredible angst across this country and increased crime. That is unconscionable.

[Fraser Tolmie, Conservative, Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to rise on behalf of the people of Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan. I rise today to speak to Bill C-14, the bail and sentencing reform act. I want to acknowledge the good work being done by the local Moose Jaw Police Service. Moose Jaw saw its crime severity index drop nearly 12% in 2024. Crimes against property are down 23%, and our clearance rates are up significantly. This shows what effective policing can achieve.

However, when I look beyond my hometown to the broader riding of Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan, the picture changes dramatically. The Saskatchewan RCMP jurisdiction has seen violent crime increase 45% over the past decade. How long has the Liberal government been in power? Coincidence or not, it is a decade. In 2024 alone, there were nearly 22,000 victims of violent crime, 6,700 more than 10 years ago. We had 41 homicides, the highest on record in the RCMP jurisdiction. This contrast tells us something critical: Local solutions matter, but municipal police cannot overcome failed federal policies or the Liberal soft-on-crime bail laws, which are forcing Canadians to defend themselves and live in fear.

The Liberal government has finally admitted what Conservatives have been trying to say for years: Its criminal justice reforms have failed. In the Liberals' own press release for Bill C-14, they acknowledged a 41% rise in the violent crime severity index since 2014. Saskatchewan RCMP reports that violent crime is up 45% in 10 years; homicides were up 46% in 2024, the highest on record; firearms offences are up 271%, the highest rate in Canada; assaults on police officers are up 87%; half of all violent crime is attributed to intimate partner and family violence; and 336 prolific offenders were arrested by specialized teams in 2024 alone.

I served with the Royal Canadian Air Force. I studied war studies at King's College at the University of London in the U.K. I understand threat assessment, and I can tell members without hesitation that the Liberal government's bail policies represent a clear and present danger to Canadian communities. In 2019, the Liberals passed Bill C-75, which imposed the so-called principle of restraint, requiring judges to release offenders at the earliest reasonable opportunity. Was that at the beginning of the sentencing, or at the end? I am not sure, but under the least onerous conditions, it has caused problems.

Then, in 2022, the Liberals doubled down with Bill C-5, eliminating mandatory jail times for serious gun crimes, including robbery with a firearm, extortion with a firearm and weapons trafficking. The result is a catch-and-release system in which repeat violent offenders walk free within hours, if not minutes.

As someone who served as the mayor of Moose Jaw, I can say that municipal leaders cannot police their way out of a crisis created by federal legislation. These are not just statistics; these are real people. Bailey McCourt in Kelowna was murdered, allegedly by her ex-husband James Plover just hours after he was released on bail following an assault conviction. Savannah Kulla, a 29-year-old mother of four, was shot and killed at a Brampton strip mall. Her killer had just been released on bail.

In Saskatchewan, where half of violent crimes involve intimate partner or family violence, women and children are living in terror because the current government prioritizes criminals over victims. Saskatchewan RCMP officers are exhausted. They arrested 336 prolific offenders in 2024, but how many walked free within hours because of the Liberals' bail laws? How many are back on the streets right now, reoffending?

In rural Saskatchewan, when a home invasion happens on a farm 30 kilometres from the nearest town, families are on their own and response times are measured in hours, not in minutes. When someone breaks into their grain bin, steals their equipment and threatens their family, they need to know that the person will not be released to do it again.

Saskatchewan farmers and ranchers deserve better. Women fleeing violent partners deserve better. Police officers deserve better. They all deserve a government that puts public safety first.

The Liberals are finally accepting reality by copying our four-year campaign to scrap Liberal bail law, but they failed to take responsibility for their own failures. Bill C-14 is a clear vindication of Conservative criticisms. The government has admitted that its policies failed. However, after finally getting through, or partially getting through, to the government, we must ensure that Bill C-14 would actually scrap Liberal bail by being as strong as possible.

Where Bill C-14 falls dangerously short is that the principle of restraint would remain intact. The government claims it is clarifying it. It has added language saying, “does not require” release, but the principle itself would still exist. It would still direct least onerous conditions and still create a culture of release.

Second, reverse onus is not detention. Bill C-14 would expand reverse onus, meaning that the accused must prove why they should be released, but this is just a procedural burden shift; it is not a presumption of detention. Dangerous offenders could still talk their way out.

Third, no mandatory minimum would be restored. Bill C-5 eliminated mandatory jail time for serious gun crimes. Bill C-14 would do nothing to restore them. Sentencing would remain highly discretionary. Judges could still give house arrest for robbery or for trafficking offences.

Fourth, the proposed bill is advisory, not mandatory. Too much of Bill C-14 would be guidance, not requirement. It would direct courts and encourage consideration but would not mandate action. In Saskatchewan, where there has been a 271% increase in firearms offences. We need mandatory protection, not suggestion.

Canadians deserve better. They deserve the full Conservative plan embodied in Bill C-242, the jail not bail act. Bill C-242 does not just clarify; it would eliminate the principle of restraint entirely and replace it with a public safety primacy clause. Public and community safety, not the earliest opportunity for release nor the least onerous conditions, would become the governing principle in bail decisions. It would be public safety, period.

Bill C-242 would create a major offences category to trigger a detention-first posture, not just reverse onus, for firearms offences, sexual offences, kidnapping and human trafficking, home invasion, robbery and extortion with a firearm, arson and violent assault. If someone is charged with a major offence and has been convicted of one in the last 10 years, bail would be barred. This is the 10-year look-back rule, a real consequence for repeat offenders.

Bill C-14 would encourage consideration. Bill C-242 would mandate it. Judges would need to consider prior convictions and breaches, outstanding charges, the number and gravity of offences, and patterns of offending while on release.

Saskatchewan RCMP did not arrest 336 prolific offenders just to have judges ignore their records. New violent charges while on bail would mean automatic detention; it would not be discretionary.

All major law enforcement organizations in Canada, the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, the Toronto Police Association, the Canadian Police Association, the National Police Federation and the Ontario Provincial Police Association, as well as the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and all provincial governments, whether Conservative, NDP or Liberal, support this, as do 79% of Canadians, who say that getting bail is too easy.

In rural Saskatchewan we understand that when someone makes a mess, they clean it up completely and do not just tidy around the edges. Bill C-242 would clean up the mess. Bill C-14 would tidy around the edges.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, the member said it well at the very end, when he talked about the different stakeholders. He made reference specifically to the many different law enforcement agencies. We could add to that the premiers of all different political stripes, whom he made reference to, as well as mayors and municipalities, including big and small communities. If we were to ask them what they felt about Bill C-14, we would find almost unanimous support for this type of bail reform legislation.

Why will the Conservative Party not allow the legislation to pass? We have now heard others say that they will not even pass it this year. Does the member agree that the Conservative Party is going to prevent it from—

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

The hon. member for Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan has the floor.

[Fraser Tolmie, Conservative, Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan, SK]

Mr. Speaker, let us be candid. The Liberals have made such a mess that when other levels of government or police forces hear that the Liberals may be thinking about trying to fix what they have broken, sure, they are going to get on board, but they want it completely fixed. Therefore if they were given a choice between the Liberals' bill or what the Conservatives offered, they would definitely go with what the Conservatives offered.

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Okanagan Lake West—South Kelowna, BC]

Mr. Speaker, Bill C-14 would still allow judges to release offenders and would still direct courts to apply the least onerous conditions if release is granted. It is the same loophole the member mentioned that let Bailey McCourt's killer walk free in Kelowna just hours after he was convicted of choking her.

Why would the Liberals preserve a culture of automatic release when public safety should be paramount?