Ottawa, ON – On Thursday, the Hon. Pierre Poilievre, Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada and the Official Opposition, and Arpan Khanna, Member of Parliament for Oxford and Conservative National Outreach Chair, announced their plan to restore safe streets by introducing the Jail Not Bail Act to strengthen public safety and tip the scales of justice back in favour of innocent Canadians.
The bill would repeal and replace the Liberal “Principle of Restraint,” introduce a new “Major Offences” category with reverse onus bail conditions for serious offences, strengthen our bail laws and toughen risk assessment standards.
As Conservatives work to protect victims and end the Liberal crime wave, this important legislation has received support from across Canadian society:
“We support this bill as it strengthens Canada’s bail system by ensuring that public safety is prioritized in decisions about interim release…By addressing repeat and violent offenders, it closes critical gaps that have too often placed our communities and victims at risk. These amendments represent a necessary step toward greater accountability, protection and confidence in our justice system.”
Debbie Henderson, family spokesperson and aunt of Bailey McCourt
“Our family is living with a permanent hole in our hearts because of a tragedy that should never have happened. The person who took our loved one’s life was out on probation, waiting for detox treatment – yet still free to cause irreversible harm. We support the Jail Not Bail Act because it puts victims and public safety first. This bill is not just policy – it’s a lifeline for future victims, and a promise that their lives will matter.”
C Trang, advocate and daughter of murder victim Hung Trang
“The Jail Not Bail Act is therefore more than legislation — it is an essential corrective- a lifeline capable of disrupting the revolving door of abuse and saving innocent lives.”
Cait Alexander, End Violence Everywhere
“This is the kind of common-sense legislation Canadians have been demanding: a framework that rebalances our bail system to prioritize public safety while still upholding the Charter right to bail.”
Michelle Mollineaux, Board Member of MEND Canada
“As someone who knows firsthand the trauma of a violent home invasion, I believe strongly in the need for Jail not Bail. My family was attacked in what should have been the safety of our own home. The idea that violent offenders could be released back onto our streets is terrifying — not just for us, but for every Canadian family. That night changed how we live and forced us to secure our home in ways I never imagined necessary. This will have a lasting impact on our family and our sense of safety. This legislation recognizes that public safety must come first. It sends a clear message that violent crime has real consequences, and that the rights of victims and families come before the rights of criminals.”
Scott Weller, home invasion victim
“The proposed ideas will put victims and communities first, restoring the balance that is desperately needed at a time when youth violence and gun crimes are out of control and innocent victims are paying the ultimate price. We would encourage all levels of government to set aside their political differences and do what’s right.”
Toronto Police Association
“As a lifelong advocate to end male violence against women and girls, I support the new Jail not Bail legislation as a necessary and long overdue measure. We cannot continue to ignore that our current bail laws too often allow repeat violent offenders — particularly men who commit violence against women — to re-enter our communities without meaningful consequences to their crimes.”
Megan Walker, women’s advocate
“It’s never been more clear that we must strengthen our laws to protect Canadians from dangerous criminals. I support @ArpanKhanna’s Jail not Bail Act to end catch & release and restore confidence in our justice system.”
Elenore Sturko, MLA for Surrey-Cloverdale
On the day of the announcement, Poilievre and Khanna were honoured to be joined by numerous victims, their loved ones, community advocates and the police who work to keep them safe, including:
- Mayor Jerry Accione from the City of Woodstock and Chief Nick Novacich from the Woodstock Police Service,
- Adrian Woolley from the Peel Police Association,
- Representatives from the Canadian Police Association,
- Cait Alexander from End Violence Everywhere,
- Representatives from the One By One Movement,
- Representatives from The Oaks Revitalization Association,
- Naeem Farooqi, brother of murder victim Aleem Farooqi, and
- Multiple victims of crime, including violent home invasion.
After a decade of chaos and disorder, Conservatives will work tirelessly to end the soft-on-crime Liberal policies that Canadians oppose – and fight to restore safe streets to our communities once again.