Carney says bail reform bill coming next week, RCMP getting money to boost pay for cadets

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney says his government’s proposed bail reform will be coming next week.

Carney announced in Etobicoke, Ont., that the Liberals will table a bill when the House of Commons returns next week that will seek to make bail harder for those accused of violent auto theft, human trafficking, assault, and extortion involving violence.

He said this would be done by expanding the use of reverse onus bail provisions, which make the accused responsible for demonstrating why they should be released, instead of a Crown prosecutor having to prove why they ought to be detained.

Other changes include allowing consecutive sentences for violent and repeat offenders, as well as reversing course on allowing those convicted of sexual assault to serve a conditional sentence, which was a change ushered in under former prime minister Justin Trudeau.

Carney, in his prepared remarks, said the forthcoming bill would end that practice, saying it was “not justice” to allow someone convicted of sexual assault to serve their sentence in the same community as their victim.

A news release from the Prime Minister’s Office says the upcoming budget will also send the RCMP $1.8 billion over the next four years to help bolster its federal policing mandate and increase the weekly pay RCMP cadets receive to $1,000, up from the current $525 allowance.

More to come …

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