Majority of Canadians Say Justice System ‘Too Lenient’ on Violent Criminals: Poll

The Supreme Court of Canada is seen in Ottawa on Aug. 10, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld)

A large majority of Canadians say Canada’s justice system is too lenient on violent criminals and that too many violent offenders are being repeatedly offered bail, according to a new poll.

Released on June 15, the Leger Marketing survey conducted on behalf of Postmedia indicates that most Canadians are prepared to take a harder line against violent offenders than their governments.

Asked whether “there are too many repeat violent offenders being offered bail,” a strong majority of Canadians (79 percent) agreed.

Polled on whether they agreed with the statement that Canada’s justice system “is too lenient on offenders who are found to be guilty of committing a violent crime,” 78 percent agreed.

The findings were based on an online survey with 1,525 Canadians aged 18 and up from June 2 to June 4.

When it comes to crime, the top priorities Canadians said they want governments to focus on are violent crimes such as murder and assault (55 percent), followed by illegal firearm possession (41 percent), and drug and substance abuse (37 percent).

‘Catch and Release’

The poll noted only 32 percent of respondents agree that the nation’s criminal justice system is firm and fair.

“[This suggests] a lack of confidence in the system’s ability to deliver appropriate and proportional justice,” it said.

According to the findings, more than two-thirds (68 percent) of Canadians said the country’s approach to bail can be best characterized as a system of “catch and release.”

On May 16, the Liberal government tabled Bill C-48 to reform the bail system. The proposed changes to Canada’s criminal code will create a reverse onus such that the defence must now prove why a suspect should get bail instead of the current approach, which mandates prosecutors prove why the suspect shouldn’t.

The proposed amendments come after months of pressure from provinces and territories to reduce the number of repeat violent offenders who are granted bail. Premiers had unanimously asked Ottawa to expand the reverse-onus provisions.

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has criticized the Liberals’ new measures, saying “they have not reversed catch and release.”

The proposed legislation “does not guarantee that a repeat violent offender who is newly charged with a violent crime would stay in jail until the sentence is completed,” Poilievre said.

The Leger poll said that 91 percent of Canadians “strongly agree” that repeat violent criminal offenders should have their access to bail “severely restricted or revoked.”

On the issue of substance abuse in the country, the survey noted respondents are more supportive of law enforcement and treatment actions to address the issue. These measures include prosecuting those who bring drugs into the community (86 percent), enforcing treatment programs where seriously addicted individuals are required to attend addictions counselling (71 percent), and enacting tougher laws that prohibit serious drug use such as opioids, cocaine, meth, and ecstasy (69 percent).

“Decriminalization” of illegal street drugs (33 percent) and “safer supply” (48 percent) approaches are less supported, researchers wrote.

Tara MacIsaac, Matthew Horwood and Peter Wilson contributed to this report.