Rescind catch-and-release bail
Petitioners ask the government to rescind bail policies that remove minimum sentences and to combat extortion against small businesses. The government responds that Bill C‑14 tightens bail for violent extortion and organized‑crime and adds stronger pre‑trial conditions.
Why we would sign this petition
- It would reverse bail policies that reduce minimum sentences, restoring stricter pre-trial detention and potentially improving safety for small businesses and their staff.
- By targeting extortion and organized‑crime offences, the measures could better equip courts to deny bail or impose conditions for violent offenders.
- Tougher pre‑trial conditions and sentencing aggravators aim to deter threats and protect community economic stability dependent on small businesses.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Shifting reverse onus to accused and removing minimum‑sentence protections risks undermining the presumption of innocence and fair bail standards.
- Greater pre‑trial detention and stricter conditions may disproportionately affect marginalized people and raise civil‑liberty concerns.
- Tighter bail and harsher sentences could increase court backlogs and costs, and may not address underlying causes of extortion and organized crime.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
PETITION TO THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA WHEREAS Micro (less than five employees) and small businesses (less than 100 employees) represent 97.9% of all businesses in Canada; Canadian small businesses have repeatedly cited crime and community safety as significant issues negatively affecting their operations, and the majority of small business owners are concerned for their safety and the safety of their employees and customers; Small businesses in BC, Alberta and Ontario have been victims of extortion and violent threats tied to organized crime groups. THEREFORE We, the undersigned citizens and permanent residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to rescind their catch and release bail policies which remove minimum sentences, and to take concrete action to combat extortion which is threatening our communities.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency Signed by THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY PATRICIA LATTANZIO The Government recognizes that small businesses are vital to communities across Canada and takes seriously the need to support their safety and continued operation. Protecting these businesses from crime is a key priority. Bill C-14, An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Youth Criminal Justice Act and the National Defence Act (bail and sentencing), proposes a series of measures aimed at addressing offences that directly affect businesses across the country. Specifically, the Bill would amend the Criminal Code to: Create several new reverse onuses, including for extortion involving violence, which would require the accused to demonstrate to the court that they should be released on bail, and not the Crown, to show that they should not be released. Expand the existing repeat and violent offending reverse onus provision so that it applies to any person charged with an offence involving violence and the use of a weapon that is punishable by at least a maximum of ten years imprisonment, who has been previously convicted, within the last 10 instead of 5 years, of a similar offence. Add the number or gravity of any outstanding charges against an accused as circumstances that a court is to consider in assessing whether the pre-trial detention of the accused is necessary to maintain confidence in the administration of justice. Require the court to consider imposing a non-communication order, a geographic limitation or electronic monitoring (if requested by the Attorney General) when granting bail to an accused charged with extortion and any organized crime-related offence. Require the court to impose a firearms or weapons prohibition, unless it is not needed for the protection of any person, when granting bail to an accused charged with extortion and any organized crime-related offence. Establish a new aggravating factor for retail theft, targeting low-level but high-volume thefts by encouraging courts to impose longer sentences where the offence was committed with the intent to sell, barter, or fraudulently return stolen merchandise. Introduce a new aggravating factor for theft and mischief that harm essential infrastructure, promoting stronger penalties for offences that disrupt business operations, such as copper theft. Require consecutive sentences in cases involving both extortion and arson, where the offences are linked as part of the same event or series of events. Together, these amendments are designed to better respond to criminal activities that undermine the security, stability, and economic vitality of businesses and the communities they serve.