Canada’s freshly minted Justice Minister, Sean Fraser, thinks it’s “weird” to want to repeal justice bills that make it easier for criminals to re-offend, even as police associations are raising the alarm over current ‘catch-and-release’ legislation.
On Wednesday, Fraser used one of his first media opportunities to flippantly dismiss Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s call to repeal two bills he blames for the current lax attitude to letting accused criminals out on bail, who often go on to re-offend.
During the federal election, multiple police associations echoed the need to repeal at least two Liberal ‘soft on crime’ bills.
When pressed on whether he would introduce legislation amending the Criminal Code as per Poilievre’s request, the new Justice Minister and Attorney General said he found the proposals “weird.” While light on details and explanations, Fraser added that he thinks the bills actually “strengthen Canada’s justice system.”
“I find it very weird frankly that the Conservatives would be championing the repeal of legislation that actually strengthens the bail system,” said Fraser.
Poilievre has called for the Liberal government to repeal Bills C-5 and C-75. Both pieces of legislation instruct judges to approach bail decisions with more leniency and to release accused criminals with less onerous conditions. Conservatives have called the current system a Liberal “catch-and-release” approach to bail.
The bills were originally intended to “address systemic inequities, including the overrepresentation of Indigenous Peoples, Black, and marginalized Canadians, in the criminal justice system” and to “reduce delays, enhance fairness, and address systemic issues.” However, the laws appear to have coincided with a rapid increase in crime in Canada, and in particular, cases involving repeat offenders.
Months earlier, Fraser—who was previously the immigration and then housing minister—said he was leaving politics to spend more time with family.
Along with criticizing the Liberal Party’s approach to criminal justice, Poilievre has laid the blame for high housing costs and an overburdened healthcare system squarely at Fraser’s feet given his previous cabinet assignments.
The Conservative party leader lamented to reporters on Tuesday that Fraser is now “the minister responsible for addressing the Liberal crime crisis.”
Poilievre also referred to Fraser’s most recent appointment to the justice minister and attorney general as yet another example of the Nova Scotia MP continuing “to fail upward.”