Criminal code amended to tighten bail and sentencing laws​​

 

Posted June 25, 2026

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Press Release - Beginning July 15, bail and sentencing laws will be stricter for violent and organized crime, home invasion, car theft, and human trafficking.

 

More specifically, the changes:

• Make bail harder to get for those accused of repeat and violent offending by creating new reverse onus rules in certain cases, meaning the accused must show why they should be released;

• Direct police to detain an accused for a bail hearing when it is necessary to protect the public, including victims and witnesses;

• Require courts to consider more factors at bail hearings, including whether the allegations involve violence that was random or unprovoked;

• Require courts to consider whether the accused has numerous or serious outstanding charges when determining whether to grant them bail;

• Require courts to consider weapons bans in more cases;

• Require courts to look more closely at an accused person’s bail plan when a reverse onus applies;

• Prohibit courts from naming anyone as a surety (someone who supervises a person who is out on bail) who was convicted of a serious criminal offence in the past 10 years, unless no other suitable surety is available;

• Require consecutive sentences for violent auto theft and break and enter;

• Require consecutive sentences for extortion and arson; and

• Require judges to consider consecutive sentences for repeat violent offending

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The proposed reforms would crack down on repeat violent offenders and organized crime, which is often linked to retail theft, and help protect transit workers from violent behaviours. More specifically, the changes:

• Create a new aggravating factor for retail theft; and

• Expand the existing aggravating factor for violence against a transit operator so that it applies to all transit employees, such as fare inspectors, station staff, and maintenance workers.