Mayor Andrew Knack is among the Edmonton leaders applauding Canada’s long-promised bail and sentencing reforms officially becoming law this week, but it’s expected to come at a cost.
In a statement issued Thursday, Knack said he believes the enactment of Bill C-14 will help restore order to Edmonton’s streets and protect communities by making it harder for people accused of repeated and violent crimes to be granted bail.
The Bail and Sentencing Reform Act gives courts the power to impose consecutive sentences for repeat offenders in cases involving violence, vehicle theft and breaking and entering offences.
“Edmontonians deserve to feel safe in their homes, businesses and communities,” Knack said.
“Municipalities are bearing the consequences of organized crime, violent extortion and repeat offenders putting pressure on businesses, community organizations and neighbourhoods. The passage of Bill C-14 acknowledges those concerns and provides important tools to improve public safety.”
On Monday, the federal government enacted the new law which federal Justice Minister Sean Fraser said is central to his government’s public safety strategy.
Among the changes, the legislation creates a new “reverse onus provision” that makes detention, not bail, the default for serious crimes. Someone seeking bail must now prove they should not remain behind bars while awaiting trial. Prosecutors previously had to prove denying bail was justified.
That provision will automatically impact anyone charged with crimes including violent auto theft, extortion involving violence, breaking and entering a private home, some human-trafficking offences, auto theft for a criminal organization, committing a third violent crime, and choking, suffocating or strangling someone.
The City of Edmonton and the Alberta government have long called for bail reform and tougher sentencing in the wake of high-profile crimes such as the killing of two men in an attack in Edmonton’s Chinatown in 2022. The accused in that case was out on bail at the time.
In a statement provided to CBC News, Alberta Justice Minister Mickey Amery called the passage of Bill C-14 a “step in the right direction.”
“Alberta provided input on this bill, and we appreciate that the federal government took our advice,” he said. “We remain cautiously optimistic and hope that the federal government continues to do more to keep Canadians safe in their communities.”
Downtown Revitalization Coalition chair Cheryll Watson says the group’s members have been pressing for reforms for a long time as Edmonton struggled with the implications of crime and disorder amid the revolving door of the justice system.
“We are looking now to the courts,” Watson said. “We have high expectations and urgency around the court system actually implementing this legislation. And so while we’re pleased that the legislation has been declared, it’s nothing unless the courts actually implement.”
University of Alberta criminology professor Temitope Oriola said he believes the sweeping, comprehensive changes respond strongly to societal grievances in recent years around repeat offences, organized crime and other crimes including unprovoked attacks.
However, Oriola said he believes the new law will cost taxpayers because the prison population is likely to grow. He said it costs roughly $260,000 to incarcerate a federal female inmate for a year and $150,000 for a male.
“In other words, are we ready to allocate more resources to the management of the inmate population?” he asked.
Oriola emphasized the importance of strengthening resources and programming around reintegration and prevention, pointing to the example of the man accused in Edmonton’s Chinatown killings.
“It was very clear to those who knew that young man from a very tender age that there was a need for mental health services intervention that just never happened,” Oriola said.
“Folks will return to society after some point and it’s important that we are prepared for the return.”
He said the devil will be in the details of the implementation of the new law to see who is getting bail and under what conditions, and whether the law is being applied fairly.
Oriola commended the federal government for offering provinces money to share data to measure how the legislation is working.