Canada Moves to Highlight New Criminal Code Reforms on Bail and Child Protection
Latest news on WhatsApp أجدد الأخبار على واتساب
Canada’s federal government is moving today to highlight a new package of Criminal Code reforms that are now law, with measures aimed at strengthening bail and sentencing rules, addressing court delays and improving protection for children from predators.
According to a media advisory from the Department of Justice Canada, Justice Minister and Attorney General Sean Fraser will hold a press conference in Surrey, British Columbia, on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, to discuss three pieces of legislation passed in June as part of the government’s broader criminal justice agenda.
The event is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. Pacific Time at Surrey City Hall, with British Columbia Attorney General Niki Sharma, Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke, members of Parliament, representatives from the Surrey Police Service, Delta Police Department and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police expected to attend.
Before the press conference, Fraser is also set to take part in a closed-door roundtable on bail reform with provincial and local officials, focusing on repeat offenders and attacks on frontline workers. The meeting comes as public safety, repeat crime, retail theft, auto theft, extortion and organized crime continue to dominate justice debates in several Canadian communities.
A major part of the reforms is tied to Bill C-14, the Bail and Sentencing Reform Act. Justice Canada says the legislation includes more than 80 targeted changes to the Criminal Code, making bail and sentencing laws stricter in cases involving violent crime, organized crime, home invasion, auto theft, human trafficking and repeat offending.
The new rules also expand “reverse onus” provisions in some serious cases, meaning an accused person may have to show why they should be released on bail, rather than the prosecution carrying the full burden of opposing release. Justice Canada says courts will also be required to consider wider public safety factors, including whether the accused has multiple serious pending charges.
The government says the reforms are intended to give courts stronger tools to respond to crimes that have had a direct impact on victims, businesses and local communities. However, the success of the changes will also depend on provinces and territories, which are responsible for key parts of the justice system, including policing, prosecutions, bail hearings, correctional facilities and victim services.
The bail and sentencing changes are scheduled to come into force on July 15, 2026, while some youth justice-related amendments will take effect later by government order.
