The federal Conservatives have introduced a bill aimed at bringing forward “significant reforms” to the Canadian Criminal Code that mainly seek to address current parole conditions for repeat offenders.
Conservative MP Pierre Paul-Hus introduced Bill C-325 on March 29, which the party says will “bring significant reforms to Canada’s Criminal Code and Corrections and Conditional Release Act that will restore safe streets.”
The Tories say Bill C-325 will “put a stop to the alarming number of convicted violent criminals and sex offenders who are serving their sentences in their homes” and will also create a new Criminal Code offence specifically for criminals who violate parole conditions that are imposed with “certain serious offences.”
Parole Reform
Paul-Hus and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre spoke to reporters in Ottawa on March 29 prior to introducing the legislation in the House of Commons.Poilievre referenced a number of violent crimes that have recently been reported across the country, many of which he said were perpetrated by repeat offenders out on bail or parole.
Poilievre said the increase in violent crime is “the direct result of Justin Trudeau and the NDP allowing repeat violent offenders onto the street again.”
“It’s time to bring some common sense back to our justice system,” he said, adding, “We’ve already proposed an end to the catch-and-release bail system, and today we propose an end to the catch-and-release parole system.”
Lametti said on March 10 that the reforms will address “challenges posed by repeat violent offenders, as well as offences committed involving the use of firearms and other weapons.”