Tories take NDP to task on bail reform

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This article was published 31/01/2024 (793 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitoba’s Progressive Conservatives say the new NDP government has failed to fulfil its campaign promise about bail reform, but the government says it’s hard at work on the file.

During a leaders’ debate on Sept. 21, 2023, now-Premier Wab Kinew said “within the first 100 days, we will direct the Ministry of Justice to implement stronger conditions in bail to keep you safe in the community.”

A release from the NDP’s website dated Aug. 17, 2023 states the party will improve “bail measures by implementing the National Police Federation recommendations on bail reform including support for better data sharing among law enforcement, investments in rural broadband to improve bail monitoring and introducing standard qualifications for those who conduct bail hearings,” if elected.

The National Police Federation is the union representing RCMP officers across Canada.

Tuesday marked 104 days since Kinew and his cabinet were sworn in and no changes to Manitoba’s bail system have been announced. However, Justice Minister Matt Wiebe told the Sun by email that changes are in the works.

Brandon West MLA and PC justice critic Wayne Balcaen said he hasn’t seen any progress.

“I have no indication that they’re working on anything besides their election promise from Wab Kinew saying that he would tackle bail provincially within the first 100 days,” Balcaen said in a Tuesday phone interview.

“Federal bail reform comes at the federal level and … the Criminal Code of Canada gives the guidelines for judges and (justices of the peace) to do their judicial releases or hold people in custody based on their availability for bail, so I don’t know what he was meaning when he said he would tackle it provincially.”

Balcaen said he would be in favour of Manitoba adopting the changes proposed by the National Police Federation, as well as similar ideas brought up by the Canadian Police Association and the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, and that Kinew should do a better job of lobbying Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for change at the federal level.

As for what Balcaen, the former chief of Brandon Police Service, thinks should be done at the provincial level to improve the situation, he said the NDP should improve court resources like the number of Crown attorneys.

In October 2022, the Winnipeg Free Press reported that “burnout, unmanageable workloads and stagnant pay” were leading to Crown prosecutors retiring or finding employment in other provinces.

Asked if his party’s tenure in government, which ended October 2023, had contributed to the shortage, Balcaen said he could not comment as he was not in government at the time, but he pointed to $3.4 million in funding his party announced in June 2023 to hire 19 more Crown attorneys and six associated support staff.

“It’s time for the government of the day to make these promises come to fruition,” Balcaen said.

By email, Wiebe said his government directed the justice department to start acting on bail reform and to implement the National Police Federation’s recommendations “shortly after taking office.”

“My department is in the final stages of developing new bail policies, as well as a public safety strategy, that includes strengthening the bail system,” Wiebe said. “Along with properly funding police services, our government will continue to listen to the needs of those on the ground working to keep Manitobans safe.”

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