Justice minister says he doesn't like 'soft on crime' slogans, but won't 'diminish' those concerns
OTTAWA — Justice Minister Sean Fraser says that while he does not believe in using labels like 'soft on crime,' which critics employ to describe the justice system, he says it is important not to dismiss the concerns of those who use them.
Article content
'I don't necessarily agree with the sloganeering approach, but that doesn't mean someone who may agree with it doesn't have a point that deserves the government's attention,' he told National Post in a recent wide-ranging interview on Wednesday.
Article content
Article content
Article content
Fraser enters the justice and attorney general portfolio at a time when premiers and police chiefs are pressing the federal government to further restrict access to bail, particularly in Ontario, as a strategy to stem the rising tide of auto thefts and home invasions, which police across the Greater Toronto Area and other regions of the country have reported.
Article content
Article content
Making bail more difficult for those accused of these crimes, particularly when violence is used and when they are connected to organized crime, was a promise made by Prime Minister Mark Carney in late April's federal election, which saw the Liberals elected to a fourth term.
Article content
The Liberals also campaigned on a pledge to make bail harder for those charged with certain human trafficking and drug smuggling offences, as well as bringing in tougher sentencing guidelines for courts to follow for repeat offenders convicted of a home invasion or auto theft.
Article content
Article content
Crime was a major focus of Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's campaign, with candidates handing out leaflets emblazoned with the percentages of how much car theft has increased in and around Toronto, where they flipped several seats from the Liberals.
Article content
Conservatives have continued to draw attention to crime rates by laying them squarely at the feet of what they describe as 'soft on crime' and 'catch-and-release' Liberal justice policies.
Article content
Fraser says the discussion around tightening bail is rooted in legal analysis and not 'exclusively on the increased scrutiny that you may see from the public or from another political party.' It is also a multi-jurisdictional matter, he points out, and touches on issues like training for judges and justices of the peace, as well as the shortage of Crown prosecutors, which the Liberals have pledged to tackle.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
37 minutes ago
- CTV News
House Speaker splits major projects bill for two separate votes
Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks at a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Thursday, June 19, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle Members of Parliament will hold two separate votes on the government's major projects bill later today after the House Speaker ruled the legislation has two distinct parts. Bill C-5, known as the one Canadian economy act, contains measures to tackle internal trade barriers and also gives the government sweeping new powers to approve major projects. The Liberals pledged during the election campaign to pass a law to break down interprovincial trade barriers by Canada Day. They're pushing the legislation through the House of Commons with the support of the Conservatives, and aim to have it passed by the end of the day. The Bloc Québécois has called for the bill to be split to allow MPs more time to study the measures that deal with major projects. New Democrat MP Jenny Kwan asked House Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia to hold separate votes on third reading, and Scarpaleggia agreed in a ruling this afternoon that the bill has two distinct parts. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 20, 2025
Ottawa Citizen
an hour ago
- Ottawa Citizen
Lam sisters called family for help amid alleged abuse before killing their mother, court hears
Article content On the day of Kieu Lam's death, her son received a call from his sisters asking for help after days of escalating abuse, only for their mother to take the daughter's phone away, a jury heard Friday. The brothers are expected to testify next week when the defence begins its case. Article content Sisters Chau Kanh Lam and Hue Ai Lam are facing first-degree murder charges in the death of their mother, Kieu Lam, on Oct. 31, 2022. Article content Article content Article content Defence lawyer Ewan Lyttle, who is representing Chau, gave his opening statements to the jury Friday morning after the Crown closed its case against the Lam sisters. Article content Article content The jury heard how Kieu gave her daughters a life devoid of love, compassion and protection. Instead, Chau and Hue's life was filled with 'control, violence and cruelty,' Lyttle said. Article content 'Kieu Lam gave life to her daughters but Kieu Lam did not give her daughters a life.' Article content On Monday, the defence will begin presenting evidence and calling up witnesses, where Chau and Hue are expected to testify through a Vietnamese interpreter. Their older brothers are also expected to testify to their mother's alleged abusive nature throughout their lives. Article content The jury heard how the brothers witnessed the alleged abuse starting in the Lam sisters' early life in Vietnam, when they were beaten with straps, and continued at their home on Bowmount Street. Article content Article content One of the brothers will say that Kieu was ashamed of her daughters for not getting married and not being able to work at times, Lyttle said. When Hue developed Parkinson's disease and was unable to work, Kieu's abuse allegedly escalated further, as Hue was the family's main source of income. Article content Article content 'They feared for their safety and had to kill their mother to end a decades-long mental and physical campaign of violence,' Lyttle said. Article content The jury heard that Kieu made the 'whole family suffer' and one of the brothers had to physically prevent their mother from attacking his sisters, Chau and Hue. Article content 'Both brothers will tell you that their mother adhered to strict old-fashioned Vietnamese rules,' Lyttle said. In the culture they were raised in, he says no child would 'ever dare fight back.'
Toronto Sun
2 hours ago
- Toronto Sun
Conservatives set January dates for convention, review of Poilievre's leadership
Published Jun 20, 2025 • 1 minute read Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is pictured during a campaign stop in Saint John during the federal election campaign. Photo by BRICE MCVICAR / Postmedia OTTAWA — Members of the Conservative party will hold a national convention in late January, where they'll vote on Pierre Poilievre's leadership. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The party's national council has scheduled the convention for Jan. 29 and 31 in Calgary. Poilievre, who lost his seat in the House of Commons in the April election, will face a secret ballot vote on his continued leadership. Such reviews happen automatically after the party loses an election and Poilievre will need to secure the support of more than half of voters at the convention to stay on. Poilievre will also provide a report to delegates at the convention and hold an accountability session. He'll likely be back in Parliament by January, as he intends to run in a byelection in a rural Alberta riding — a Conservative stronghold — this summer. Columnists World Toronto & GTA World MMA
