Oxford MP’s attempt to fast-track bail bill voted down

Oxford MP Arpan Khanna. arpankhannamp.ca photo

By Jeff Helsdon

Oxford MP Arpan Khanna says people are dying on Canada’s streets while the government delays working on fixing the nation’s bail problems.

Khanna’s private member’s bill, the Jail Not Bail Act, is intended to address the problem of repeat offenders being granted bail. He said with 1,600 violent crimes per day, many of these by repeat offenders and one-third of murders in the country committed by repeat offenders, there is no time to delay.

Khanna’s bill is number 10 on the list when the government starts to debate private members’ business. A date for that to start hasn’t been set but will occur this fall. The Conservatives believe the bail problem is large enough that the Oct. 6 Opposition Day Motion was meant to speed up passage of the bill and not wait for the private member’s bill process.

“The Liberals and the other parties voted against fast-tracking the bill,” Khanna said of the result of the lost vote. “They want it go through the normal channels.”

He believes the decision was made because of politics. He maintains it’s not a political issue but one that crosses party lines, with surveys showing 80 per cent of people want the issue fixed. Khanna pointed to calls for immediate action from B.C. NDP Premier David Eby and Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow.

Khanna said he saw “zero cooperation” with an offer that would allow Liberals to pass the bill as their own, saying he doesn’t have to take credit for it as long as there is action.

“They want to continue business as it’s supposed to be; they want to continue through normal channels,” he said.

The vote to move up debate of the bill was lost 196-142.