News
Police and municipal leaders welcome new bail and sentencing act, urge systemic follow-up
October 25, 2025
Oct. 25, 2025, Ottawa, Ont. – The federal government’s introduction of Bill C-14, the Bail and Sentencing Reform Act, on Oct. 23, 2025, was strongly supported by both the Police Association of Ontario (PAO) and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM). Both organizations view the legislation, which implements tougher bail conditions and sentencing rules aimed at violent and repeat offenders, as a welcome and overdue step toward enhancing community safety.
The PAO, which represents over 32,000 police personnel, strongly supports the Act, noting the measures reflect persistent advocacy for a stronger and more effective Criminal Code. However, while the PAO supports the reforms, they emphasized several areas where further work is needed to ensure consistent application and accountability. The association called for:
- A fully codified exemption from the “ladder principle” for reverse-onus offences to remove judicial discretion in cases involving violent and repeat offenses.
- A cash deposit requirement for repeat and violent offenders released on bail to ensure greater accountability and stronger mechanisms for enforcement.
- Further clarity on the burden of proof and standardized training for jurists nationwide to ensure consistent application of reverse onus provisions.
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) welcomed the new tools, noting the legislation responds to community safety pressures where police are “arresting the same people over and over”.
However, FCM emphasized that enforcement alone cannot solve the complex challenges driving crime. The organization urged the federal government to ensure a comprehensive approach that addresses root causes contributing to public safety issues, such as growing homelessness and limited access to health and social supports.
To truly fix the problem, FCM is advocating for more support for mental health and addiction services, more judges and prosecutors to clear court backlogs, and better data sharing across provinces.