OTTAWA — The Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies (CAEFS), the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA), the John Howard Society of Canada (JHSC) and the Black Legal Action Centre (BLAC) are demanding changes to bail reform, warning that the planned changes are dangerous and will degrade public safety.
In a letter sent to the Premiers today, civil society groups sounded the alarm. The Premiers are asking Canada to introduce ‘reverse onus’ reforms that shift the burden from the government to the accused.
“Reverse onus provisions will not correct the dysfunction within Canada’s bail system; They will further burden a system that is already exhausted. Canada’s pre-trial detention rates are an international embarrassment that call into question whether the rights to the presumption of innocence and reasonable bail are taken at all seriously in this country,” the group wrote in their letter.
During a press conference today, Catherine Latimer, Executive Director of the John Howard Society of Canada added:
“Canada’s pre-trial detention rates are an international embarrassment and the provinces also have a responsibility to address the dysfunction that hurts so many and undermines public safety. We call on the Premiers to support an evidence-based review of pre-trial detention practices.”
“Canada’s premiers should be focusing all of their efforts on investing in the social determinants of health like, education, housing, health care and other social supports. Instead, they have asked the federal government to put more people, many of whom statistically will never be convicted, in prison. Furthermore, it is irresponsible to call for more incarceration without addressing or acknowledging the deplorable state of provincial prisons and judicial capacity in Canada. Simply put, the presumption of innocence needs to mean something in this country,” added Emilie Coyle, Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies.
“Every person in Canada deserves their day in court before being convicted of a crime and potentially sent to prison. That is why bail — not being kept in prison while waiting for a trial — is a constitutional right under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Bill C-48 undermines liberty by making bail more difficult to access. It is possible to uphold the right to reasonable bail and enhance public safety, for example by investing in social and community supports. Canada can and must do better than Bill C-48.” said Shakir Rahim, Director of the Criminal Justice Program at the Canadian Civil Liberties Association.
Link to Press Conference: https://www.cpac.ca/episode?id=a8cc6627-40b9-41d3-b05b-6f7617f6ebf2
Link to the joint letter to the provincial and territorial Premiers: click here.
About the Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies
CAEFS works to address the persistent ways in which women and gender-diverse people impacted by criminalization are denied humanity and excluded from community. CAEFS’ vision is a world without prisons with strong and well-resourced communities for everyone.
About the John Howard Society of Canada
The John Howard Society of Canada is a national charity committed to just, effective, and humane responses to the causes and consequences of crime. It has a long history in Canada of seeking evidence-based, principle-driven improvements to the criminal justice system and in supporting those who have been impacted by it.
About the Canadian Civil Liberties Association
The CCLA is an independent, non-profit organization with supporters from across the country. Founded in 1964, the CCLA is a national human rights organization committed to defending the rights, dignity, safety, and freedoms of all people in Canada.
About the Black Legal Action Centre
Established in 2017, the Black Legal Action Centre (BLAC) is an independent not-for-profit community legal clinic that combats individual and systemic anti-Black racism by providing free legal services, conducting research, developing public legal education materials, and engaging in test case litigation and law reform.
Media Contact:
Alex Nanoff – 613.709.6318
Media@ccla.org
About the Canadian Civil Liberties Association
The CCLA is an independent, non-profit organization with supporters from across the country. Founded in 1964, the CCLA is a national human rights organization committed to defending the rights, dignity, safety, and freedoms of all people in Canada.
For the Media
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