Peel Police Service Board Welcomes Federal Bail and Sentencing Reform Legislation
Region of Peel – The Peel Police Service Board welcomes the federal Bail and Sentencing Reform Act and recognizes it as an important step toward strengthening community safety, improving accountability within the justice system, and ensuring that the voices of victims and survivors are reflected in public policy.
For several years, the Board has consistently advocated for reforms to address the growing impact of repeat violent offenders, chronic bail violations, home invasions, carjackings, human trafficking, intimate partner violence, and other serious crimes affecting communities across Peel Region and Canada.
The Board’s advocacy has been grounded in a simple principle: victims and survivors must be heard, protected, and placed at the centre of public safety discussions.
In September 2025, the Peel Police Service Board and Peel Regional Police convened Ontario’s first policing-led Victims and Survivors Symposium, bringing together more than 250 victims, survivors, community organizations, justice sector leaders, police leaders, and government representatives to discuss the impacts of violent crime and systemic issues within Canada’s bail system. The symposium produced a series of recommendations, including strengthening reverse-onus provisions for violent offences, enhancing bail compliance monitoring, prioritizing victim safety in release decisions, and advancing targeted Criminal Code reforms to address repeat violent offending.
The symposium represented a significant milestone in shifting the conversation from statistics and policy debates to the lived experiences of those directly affected by violent crime. The recommendations developed through that process were informed by victims and survivors themselves and were supported by police leaders from Peel, Toronto, Durham, Halton, and York Regions as well as the OPP.
The Board has also consistently supported broader public safety advocacy efforts, including hosting national and provincial discussions on organized auto theft, violent crime, repeat offenders, and community safety. Through these efforts, Peel has worked alongside municipal, provincial, and federal partners to identify legislative gaps and advance practical solutions that improve public safety while respecting the rights and freedoms guaranteed under the Charter.
This legislation reflects the concerns that victims, survivors, police leaders, municipalities, and community advocates have raised for years. While meaningful implementation work remains ahead, today’s announcement demonstrates that governments are listening to the experiences of those most directly impacted by violent crime and recognizing the need for a justice system that effectively balances public safety, offender accountability, and victim protection.
The Peel Police Service Board looks forward to working with all orders of government to ensure reforms achieve their intended objective: safer communities, stronger support for victims and survivors, and greater public confidence in our justice system.
QUOTES
“Throughout this discussion, our Board has consistently advocated for a justice system that better reflects the experiences of victims and survivors. We welcome this legislation as an important step forward and remain committed to working with governments, police services, community organizations, and victims’ advocates to ensure meaningful and lasting reform.”
— Nando Iannicca, Chair, Peel Police Service Board
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