Next week, the Canadian government is set to roll out a new bail reform bill aimed at keeping violent and repeat offenders off the streets. Prime Minister Mark Carney made the announcement Thursday outside the RCMP Toronto Airport detachment in Etobicoke, revealing that the legislation will flip Canada’s current bail system “on its head.”

Under current law, prosecutors must prove why someone shouldn’t be released on bail — a rule Carney says has made it too easy for repeat violent offenders to return to their communities quickly. The new bill will introduce a “reverse-onus” model, meaning that those accused of serious crimes like violent assaults, human trafficking, or organized theft will have to prove to the court why they should be granted bail.

The bill will also:

• Allow consecutive sentencing, ensuring offenders serve full time for multiple crimes (e.g. a 7-year + 5-year sentence = 12 years served).

• Ban conditional sentences (house arrest) for sexual assault and similar offences, requiring time served in custody.

• Impose harsher penalties for organized retail theft, protecting workers and businesses.

In addition, Carney announced $1.8 billion in new funding over four years for the RCMP. The investment will fund 1,000 new officers, raise cadet pay to $1,000 a week, and assign 150 officers specifically to crack down on organized crime, money laundering, and online fraud.

The new measures come amid mounting pressure from premiers, police forces, and local governments over rising crime rates involving repeat offenders.

🗣️ Mixed Reactions

Not everyone’s cheering. The Conservatives dismissed the plan as “half-baked,” saying it doesn’t go far enough and still leaves the “principle of restraint” intact — the rule requiring bail for offenders “at the earliest reasonable opportunity.”

On the other hand, the Toronto Police Association called the bill “a positive step,” supporting the inclusion of reverse-onus bail and tougher sentencing. The Federation of Canadian Municipalities also welcomed the announcement as “a signal that Ottawa is listening.”

Civil rights advocates, however, remain skeptical. The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) argues that there’s no evidence linking bail to higher crime rates and criticized the lack of national bail data.

Carney said more announcements — including one on border security — will follow in the coming days as part of the government’s broader public safety strategy.