OTTAWA –
Canada’s justice minister accused Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives on Thursday of using tragedies such as the murder of a young Ontario provincial police officer “to try to score political points.”
Lametti made the comment in the House of Commons as a motion by the Conservatives was being debated, calling on members of Parliament to pressure Ottawa to enact various bail reforms.
Raquel Dancho, the party’s public safety critic, said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government has failed to act on violence committed by criminals who have been released on bail.
She pointed to the fact that one of two people charged with first degree murder in the late December murder of OPP Const. Initially, Greg Pierzchala had been denied bail on a separate assault and weapons charge. He was later released, and after he failed to appear for a court hearing, a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Dancho said prime ministers and police chiefs are demanding Ottawa take action, and the party motion says Ottawa must ensure the justice system “puts the rights of law-abiding Canadians ahead of the rights of violent and repeat offenders.
Lametti told the House that he is looking into the concerns raised by the prime ministers, but defended Canada’s justice system, saying the law already stipulates that those deemed to pose a significant threat to society should not be released. on bail.
“I am disappointed that the official opposition is using tragedies to try to score political points,” he said.
“Canadians know that these are serious and complicated problems and that there are no quick or easy solutions.”
Both the NDP and the Bloc Quebecois said on Thursday they would not support a campaign by Conservatives to ask the government to take a tougher stance on bail, though their parliamentarians agreed that the recent spate of violence seen in the country is worrisome and that solutions are needed.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on February 2, 2023.
