Manitoba leaders weigh in on federal bail reform

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s plan to beef up the RCMP and crack down on violent and repeat offenders has the backing of Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham, who called the announcement “a response to the outcry of the public” and mayors such as himself.

“I’ve talked to many individuals who say they’re losing faith in the justice system. We don’t want that in our community,” he said. “Things need to change and I’m hoping that this legislation is one of the first steps to making those changes.”

Legislation to be introduced next week will make it tougher for an accused to get bail for a violent crime or an offence linked to organized crime.

The mayor started issuing “repeat offender bulletins” last month as part of his campaign to demand bail and sentencing reform. One update focused on a man who was convicted of 24 violent crimes over 11 years and violated bail or probation conditions 12 times.

Meantime, the Association of Manitoba Crown Attorneys said it’s concerned about unsustainable workloads under the new plan.

“Our experience is that, when changes are made to alter procedures or increase penalties in the Criminal Code, our work becomes more complicated and time consuming,” vice-president Ben Wickstrom said in a prepared statement.

“Increased penalties generally result in more matters being contested by accused persons, and that results in more time spent by prosecutors arguing in court,” Wickstrom said. It’s essential that the province ensures that there are sufficient prosecutors to carry out the work, he said.

Manitoba Tories said they support tougher bail requirements but aren’t sure Manitoba’s justice system is equipped to deal with them, leader Obby Khan told reporters at the legislature.

“Is this minister of justice ready? Do we have enough Crown attorneys, court services, clerks, reporters, law enforcement?” he asked.

The federal government’s strategy includes $1.8-billion over four years to hire 1,000 net new RCMP officers.

Winnipeg Liberal MP Kevin Lamoureux held his own news conference Thursday in which he said his government’s approach is good news for Manitoba, which has the highest RCMP vacancy rate of all provinces.

Manitoba RCMP’s vacancy rate climbed from six per cent in April 2021 to about 15 per cent in January.

“We need to get those positions filled,” Lamoureux said at the legislature office of his daughter, Liberal MLA Cindy Lamoureux. “I’m sure that Manitoba will get its fair share of that number and that’ll be over and above the vacancies,” he said.

The president of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities said she hopes so, but noted that Carney’s announcement was about increasing federal policing capacity across Canada.

“It’s a little distinct from the community contract policing which remains a critical concern, especially for Manitoba municipalities because we have the highest RCMP vacancy rate in Canada,” Kathy Valentino said from Thompson.

She said AMM members are keen to do anything they can to help with RCMP recruitment and reduce Manitoba municipalities’ RCMP shortage. They’re thankful for stricter bail conditions for repeat offenders who commit property crimes including break-ins, and want them implemented as soon as possible.

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“Those really are what’s undermining Manitoba municipalities’ community safety.” She said Manitoba’s lobbying efforts are paying off and helped shape federal actions on public safety.

The Criminal Defence Lawyers Association of Manitoba says the most encouraging part of Thursday’s announcement had nothing to do with bail reform.

“The changes to the bail system are not necessarily going to solve any issues,” communications director Chris Gamby said. “They may, in fact, create more issues than they’ll solve.”

The federal government’s pledge to work with provinces, territories, and local law enforcement to address the root causes of crime, however, “would be a very positive outcome,” said Gamby.

Making major investments to build affordable housing, supporting those struggling with mental health and addictions, and reinforcing programs for at-risk youth is what Manitoba defence lawyers have been calling for amidst all the talk of bail reform, he said.

“Whatever side of the political spectrum you’re on, or whatever you think about crime, I think that is a laudable move,” said Gamby.

Lamoureux pointed to recent examples of tackling root causes, including funding a basketball court at Winnipeg’s Northwood Community Centre.

“Seeing young people playing basketball in an outdoor court is more positive than having no basketball court where a youth is doing whatever,” he said.

Another example is the federal-provincial announcement Tuesday. More than $9 million in combined funding has been set aside to repair 738 secure, affordable rental homes across Manitoba. The repairs will extend the life of existing affordable housing units across the province. “People need homes to try to deal with a multitude of different social issues,” the MP said.

Premier Wab Kinew, who ran on tackling the root causes of crime, said he’s encouraged that the federal government is addressing the issue but more is needed than social supports such as universal school meal programs.

“The reality is you can’t bring the school milk cart to a robbery that’s in progress,” he told reporters at the legislature.

“You need a police officer to do that and you need a justice system to hold the person responsible accountable. That’s the reality of the world that we live in.”

— with files from Maggie Macintosh

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca

Carol Sanders
Legislature reporter

Carol Sanders is a reporter at the Free Press legislature bureau. The former general assignment reporter and copy editor joined the paper in 1997. Read more about Carol.

Every piece of reporting Carol produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.