HUNTER: New Ontario minister for bail slams soft-on-crime feds

Article content

The severity of the crime no longer matters.

Article content

Shoplifting is on par with murder and sexual assault. Ultimately, every crook – two-bit or sophisticated – walks out of bail court with a free pass thanks to the Trudeau government’s mind-boggling homage to stupidity, Bill C-75.

Article content

Article content

The bill decries that every accused should receive bail sooner rather than later. The offence does not matter.

Ontario Associate Minister of Auto Theft and Bail Reform, Zee Hamid, told the Toronto Sun that the bail law desperately needs to make a distinction between minor crimes and repeat and violent offenders.

“All we’re asking is for things to be put back together,” the Milton PC MPP said. “For some reason, the feds are not catching the public’s mood on violent crime.”

“Public safety is a pressing issue. Punishment and bail have to be meaningful,” Hamid said.

Article content

Article content

He added: “For some of these guys, they need to be treated like a teacher treats a misbehaving student. They need a time-out. Victims live with the trauma forever. It’s clear there needs to be bail reform.”

The entire criminal justice system needs an overhaul to protect taxpayers and the innocent, Hamid said.

“The criminal code is actually very weak. Just last week, a repeat drunk driver with three lifetime bans (from driving) was released on bail. Three times while on bail, he was arrested for drunk driving. And then he did it again. He’s going to ignore the conditions,” Hamid said, adding it’s an “uphill battle.”

Article content

Hamid and the Ford government is also concerned about the recent criminal-friendly antics of the judiciary.

“What frustrates us is that judges appear more friendly and more concerned about the feelings of criminals than keeping the public safe,” he said.

Hamid said the Ford government is taking the following initiatives:

– The government is providing $24 million to the Ontario Provincial Police, 17 municipal police services and four First Nations police services to establish dedicated bail compliance and warrant apprehension teams to monitor high-risk individuals.

– The government has added $48 million to double the size of the OPP-led Repeat Offender Parole Enforcement (ROPE) Squad, whose officers haul in high-risk offenders, from five to 10 teams.

Article content

– Hamid said the government has also invested $26 million to create Intensive Serious Violent Crime Bail Teams within the court system to “ensure that there are dedicated prosecutors and subject matter experts to prepare for and properly conduct the often lengthy and complex bail hearings.”

– The province (along with other provinces and municipalities) is pressing the feds to reform the “broken bail system.”

– The Provincial Bail Compliance Dashboard, slated to be introduced later this year, will allow cops to monitor, consolidate and share information related to individuals on bail for firearms-related offences, including offender release addresses.

“Bill C-75 has been a disaster, and last year’s Bill C-48 hasn’t come close to repairing the damage,” Hamid said. “Yet the Liberals intend to pat themselves on the back for a job well done.”

Article content

He pointed out that the Criminal Code is federally regulated.

On auto theft, Hamid said that there has been a “dramatic reduction” in the epidemic of thefts.

Équité Association recently released a report showing a dramatic reduction in auto theft rates across Canada, with Ontario leading the way with a 25.9% reduction YTD over last year.

RECOMMENDED VIDEO

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Play Video

The bad news is that the numbers are still way above the auto thefts in 2023.

Hamid said the government has provided funding for five helicopters to assist the crackdown, in addition to providing funding for dedicated auto theft teams at various police services to help them build the strongest cases possible.

Vehicle theft, of course, ties into the bail crisis. Hamid thought it “insane” that the accused in a $45 million cocaine ring busted by Peel Regional Police should get bail.

“This can’t continue. The last few years have been a disaster with international organized crime gaining a firm toehold in Canada,” Hamid said. “It’s no longer kids going for a joy ride. It’s now all tied into drugs, human trafficking and other serious, violent crimes.

“Sadly, we don’t have much time,” he warned.

bhunter@postmedia.com

@HunterTOSun

Article content