OTTAWA –
Attorney General David Lametti said he will discuss reforming Canada’s bail system when he meets with his provincial counterparts this Friday.
Earlier this year, prime ministers called on the federal government to set up a “reverse liability” system for gun crimes that requires bail applicants to state why they should not stay behind. iron.
Lametti told a Parliamentary committee meeting on Monday that he is prepared to amend the Penal Code and has spoken with a number of provincial partners about the issue.
But he said bail is a fundamental right and any law that makes access more difficult risks contravening the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Lametti did not say when the Liberal government plans to act but said it was a priority.
The Federal Conservative Party has been urging the government to increase bail access for repeat offenders, especially in gun cases.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on March 6, 2023.
