Oxford MP launches national consultation on bail reform

Oxford MP Arpan Khanna. (Contributed Photo).

Lee Griffi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Conservative Member of Parliament for Oxford is launching a nationwide consultation to gather feedback from Canadians on urgent reforms needed for Canada's bail system and broader criminal justice laws.

Arpan Khanna is engaging front-line police officers, Crown prosecutors, judges, social workers, victims' advocacy groups, all levels of government, and members of the private sector. The goal is to gather insight and shape a Private Member's Bill (PMB) aimed at strengthening public safety, and rebalancing a criminal justice system that has, under the Liberal government, tipped in favour of repeat offenders.

"Canadians are becoming afraid to walk in their neighbourhoods," said MP Khanna. "Every day, we hear of another violent crime committed by someone who was already out on bail. Enough is enough; Canadians deserve better. They deserve safe communities."

At the beginning of each new Parliament, all MPs who are not ministers or parliamentary secretaries, are put in a draw to earn the right to bring a bill forward at the next sitting.

“I was lucky number 13 meaning in September during the first week back I have to present something and chances are it will be discussed during this session. It’s entirely up to me what I want to bring forward.”

He added working on a bail reform bill was an easy decision based on what he has been hearing from local residents and people across the country.

“We’ve done surveys, consultations, meetings with folks here in Oxford County and I travel across Canada in my national role. Bail reform and crime in general has been a topic in every single meeting. People here don’t feel safe going to the bank any more and there are security guards.”

Khanna serves as the party’s National Outreach Coordinator and is responsible for shaping the party’s national outreach strategy, coordinating engagement with diverse communities, and supporting grassroots organization efforts across the country. He added Woodstock police have told him they are constantly arresting the same people over and over again and pointed to several recent tragic crimes.

“We had a 71-year-old getting groceries (in Toronto) stabbed by a 14-year-old. We have had broad daylight shootings across the country. There was a gun fired at a home in Woodstock last fall. Mayors and premiers have been calling for this, victim advocacy groups are talking about it. There is a wide consensus across the county that we need some sort of bail reform.”

Khanna pointed to recently released Statistics Canada data that shows violent crime has risen nearly 55 per cent 2015, gun crime is up 130 per cent and a 76 per cent increase in sexual assaults.

"Canadians are becoming afraid to walk in their neighbourhoods. Every day, we hear of another violent crime committed by someone who was already out on bail. Enough is enough. Canadians deserve better. They deserve safe communities."

The Oxford MP does admit the Liberals and new Prime Minister Marc Carney have talked about getting harder on crime and bail reform but so far, it has amounted to nothing.

“The solutions they bring to this are more ideological or fluff that don’t actually work. They brought in C-75 and C-5 which have made the problem worse. When a judge is granting bail, it has to be the least restrictive possible. I am putting together about 10 different solutions based on what Canadians are telling me.”

He added the Liberals are more than welcome to steal his ideas and pass their own bill to create a safer country. Khanna explained the daughter of a Woodstock Police officer sent him an Instagram message after the recent TD bank robbery in the city

“She said her dad was one of the officers who responded and it was a repeat offender out on bail multiple times. She said she fears for her father’s safety.”

Khanna said the country needs a criminal justice system that puts the safety of Canadians first.

“That's why I'm going to every corner of this country to hear what needs to change, so Conservatives can bring forward solutions that make our communities safer." Khanna's office is inviting everyone in Oxford to contribute directly to the consultation. Feedback can be sent to arpan.khanna@parl.gc.ca with the subject line ‘Bail Reform’ or return the mailer arriving mailboxes soon with no postage necessary.