Monsef defends earlier releases for criminals

Violent criminals are being arrested and released too soon because of new federal laws, states a letter from the police board to Women and Gender Equality Minister Maryam Monsef — and in response, Monsef writes that the new laws are meant to make the justice system and the courts more effective and reduce the “overrepresentation” of Indigenous and marginalized people in jail.

Still, Monsef writes that she appreciates the feedback and will pass it on to her fellow cabinet ministers, including Justice Minister David Lametti.

Peterborough’s crime rate increased 8.8 per cent in the first half of 2020 compared to the first six months of 2019, notes the letter from the police board to Monsef, the MP for Peterborough-Kawartha.

The Peterborough Police Services Board says that’s due in part to new federal legislation adopted last year, Bill C-75, that does away with preliminary hearings for less-serious crimes.

The police board letter — which was sent both to Monsef and to Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith — cites eight recent examples where someone in Peterborough was arrested and soon released, “only to reoffend shortly thereafter.”

In her response dated Oct. 14 and reviewed by the police board at its meeting on Tuesday, Monsef writes that Bill C-75 was designed to help bring about “a culture shift” in the criminal justice system, making it “more efficient, effective, fair and accessible.”

But she also writes that there “are no simple solutions” in bringing greater fairness, and that she will bring the police board’s feedback to Parliament.

“We are committed to reforming our criminal justice system so that it reduces the over-representation of Indigenous and marginalized Canadians, while continuing to hold criminals to account and keep our communities safe,” Monsef wrote.

Board member Les Kariunas said on Tuesday he’s concerned about this response from Monsef because Bill C-75 is allowing local criminals to be released quickly and to reoffend.

“It’s affecting our ability to police in the city,” he said.