Police leaders across the country and the premiers from all 13 provinces and territories are pushing the federal government hard for bail reform.
That includes North Bay Police Chief Scott Tod.
"I think a lot of police leaders and government leaders in the last few weeks since December 27 and the very sad death of an OPP constable, talked about bail reform. Discussions around people who have been incarcerated and have been released by the courts and committed crimes within our community has been going on constantly since Bill C-75," Tod stated after Tuesday's North Bay Police Board Meeting.
"This discussion is about dangerous or violent offenders who are wanted on warrants or dangerous people who continue to present a danger in our community so the new discussion is talking about how do we strengthen bail reform to prevent dangerous people from being released."
See related: WATCH: Bail reform has been a long term struggle
Canada's premiers are unanimously urging Ottawa to take "immediate action" to strengthen the country's bail system after the recent shooting death of an OPP officer — and Justin Trudeau says he is looking "quickly" and "carefully" at their concerns.
Premiers from all 13 provinces and territories sent a letter to the Prime Minister last week, saying the time for action is now.
"We need to incarcerate dangerous offenders and keep them incarcerated until the courts have been able to determine the innocence or guilt of their crimes, especially in regards to firearms offences," said Tod.
Involved in many talks last few days on Bail Reform. It's not easy and won't solve all problems. I suggest more officers to search 24/7 for dangerous offenders and bail violators. A new system to transport all criminals arrested on warrant to court of jurisdiction. No exceptions
— Scott Tod (@ChiefTod) January 12, 2023
Tod, with over 40 years of police experience, believes a provincial task force could be part of the bail reform solution.
"I do have some thought about this," said Tod.
"Although everyone said this is unprecedented times, I often think of the things in the past in regards to four RCMP officers slain in Mayerthorpe, the officers that were slain in New Brunswick, and often it involves an offender of some type who has shown violence in the community in which they are found. What more can we do? Some of the things I have often said, one starting with police is, are we providing the best possible information to the Crown Attorneys and the Prosecutors, and to the Courts about the threats surrounding the individual. Is there a better way in which we can do it?
"It would be nice to have what I think is a continuous and unrelenting team of individual police; a team of officers in our province, much like the repeat offender enforcement unit we have right now in greater numbers so the most serious criminals who present danger to our society right now know that someone is looking for them continuously."
With files from the Canadian Press
