Tories Introduce Bill Aimed at Reforming Parole Sentencing in Criminal Code

Conservative MP Pierre Paul-Hus rises during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on May 14, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick)

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 Conservatives said in a press release that the bill aims to “undo elements” of Bill C-5—legislation passed in November 2022 that removed 20 mandatory minimum sentences from the Criminal Code and the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

Bill C-5 was sponsored by Justice Minister David Lametti. The mandatory minimum sentences it rolled back were mostly for certain drug and gun charges, and it also gave judges more freedom to grant conditional sentences.

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.”

“The bill would then require that these violations be reported to the relevant authorities,” the party adds.

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.”

Conservatives previously introduced a motion for bail reform in the House, but it was defeated 205–116 on Feb. 6.

Lametti said earlier this month that the federal government will be moving forward with a “targeted reform” of Canada’s bail 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.”

The move comes after all 13 of Canada’s premiers called on Ottawa in January for federal bail reform following the death of Ontario Provincial Police Const. Greg Pierzchala, who was killed on duty, with the primary suspect being a repeat offender who was out on bail.

Marnie Cathcart and Andrew Chen contributed to this report.