Muhammad Irfan 
The True Post (Web News) Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has indicated that he will introduce a bail reform bill in Parliament next week, making a “major announcement” against the country’s rising violent crime and repeat offenders.
The move is ostensibly to strengthen public safety, but political experts are also calling it a political decision taken under pressure. Prime Minister Carney says the government wants to amend the Criminal Code to keep violent and repeat offenders out of communities. These crimes include car theft, home invasion, human trafficking, violent assault and sexual crimes. The new law will introduce the concept of reverse onus bail — meaning the accused will now have to prove in court that he or she is eligible for bail. It also includes tougher and more frequent sentences and the elimination of lenient sentences for sex crimes. The measures appear to be tough and in line with public demands, but critics
say the bill is largely a response to political pressure, rather than a genuine judicial reform. The Conservative Party of Canada called the Carney government’s move a political ploy. They say the Liberal government has made similar promises in the past but has not delivered. According to the party’s justice critic Larry Brooke, “Six months have passed but no real legislation has been enacted, and the government is still refusing to abolish the ‘Principle of Restraint.’ This principle obliges judges to consider lenient alternatives before imposing a prison sentence. According to the Conservative position, this principle **further encourages criminals** to escape the justice system. The civil society position, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA), has called the law unscientific and baseless. “The government still does not have basic data on how many people reoffend while on bail,” says Shakir Rahim, its director. According to him, “this law is being made under public pressure, not based on facts.” It is worth noting that **the causes of crime are not only related to judicial leniency, but also to social and economic factors. Political and social impact According to analysts, the bail reform bill could undoubtedly become a political slogan for the government, especially at a time when public trust in both the police and the judiciary in the country is shaky. The Prime Minister’s announcement of $1.8 billion in funding for the RCMP and the recruitment of 1,000 new officers is a sign that the government wants to directly address public fear and feelings of insecurity. However, the question also arises: **Will stricter laws really reduce crime, or will it just prove to be a political measure that provides temporary satisfaction?
