BREAKING: Liberals, NDP and Bloc vote against Conservatives’ bail reform push

In the midst of a crime wave, the Liberal government and opposition parties blocked the Conservatives efforts to expedite bail reform

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The Liberal government and opposition parties voted down the Conservatives’ opposition day motion urging the rapid passage of their “Jail Not Bail Act” on Monday.

In a letter sent to Carney on Sunday, Poilievre and Conservative MP Arpan Khanna accused the government of inaction on crime and said its 2019 bail changes, contained in Bill C-75, have created a “catch-and-release” system that prioritizes offenders over victims.

“Canadians deserve to feel safe in their homes, their parks and on their streets. After years of Liberal catch-and-release, they don’t,” the letter says.

“Your government’s bail regime has turned repeat violent offenders back onto our streets again and again, with tragic and preventable consequences.”

The letter urges Carney to “scrap Liberal bail” and support the Conservative private member’s Bill C-242, sponsored by Khanna.

Members from the Liberals, NDP, and Bloc Québécois all voted against the Conservatives’ push to have the government pass Bill C-242.

In total, 142 Conservatives voted in favour, while 196 members of the other parties voted against the bail reform push. Second reading for Bill C-242 itself has yet to be scheduled.

The bill would repeal the “principle of restraint” in bail hearings for serious and organized crimes such as extortion and home invasion, require judges to consider an accused’s criminal history, and restrict offenders with repeat violent charges from being vouched for by others.

The Opposition argued that the proposed reforms were backed by police associations and victims’ advocates, including the Toronto Police Association and the family of Bailey McCourt, whose killing last year became a rallying point for tougher bail conditions.

Liberal Justice Minister Sean Fraser told the House of Commons that the Bill “won’t help.”