The ReeveLaw Blog

Our government has introduced new measures to “streamline certain administration of justice offences out of the traditional court system where no harm has been caused to victims.” In other words, where there has been such a bail violation, instead of arresting the person, holding them overnight in a jail cell and conducting another bail hearing, the matter CAN be referred to a Judge to decide what if any changes to the bail should be made. In Ontario, this system is not being adopted. I’m not sure why not.

Make no mistake, they are violent and dangerous. They should be the exception but they’re not. When you militarize the police expect them to act like they’re at war … with us.

They didn’t even remove from the Criminal Code the mandatory minimum sentences that have been declared unconstitutional. They try to minimize the effects of drug criminalization but they won’t decriminalize it. Decades of additions, deletions, amendments and changes stacked upon changes, sections of the Criminal Code that have 30 or more subsections have made criminal law so complicated and convoluted that it is almost unworkable. We need an overhaul of our way of thinking about the philosophy and purpose of criminal law. We need a new Canada Law Reform Commission, which was disbanded in 1972 to guide us.

“By continuing to leverage technology and critical partnerships, we are doing away with antiquated systems that have hindered and slowed down the delivery of justice in Ontario.”