TORONTO — The Canadian Civil Liberties Association delivered its submission to the Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs on Bill C-48, which restricts access to bail.
Shakir Rahim, Director of the Criminal Justice Program, said “Bail is the safeguard of liberty for the innocent. Yet pre-trial detention in Canada is astronomical and rising (over 158% increase since 1986), judges and oversight bodies describe conditions in pre-trial detention as horrific, and Indigenous and Black persons are overrepresented among those denied bail.”
The CCLA recommends the removal of the reverse onus provisions in Bill C-48, in particular the discharge reverse onus that captures individuals who are not repeat violent offenders. The CCLA also recommends an amendment to require that a court making a bail decision explain how they applied the Criminal Code requirement that circumstances of Indigenous and other persons overrepresented in the criminal justice system are considered.
Shakir Rahim will testify before the Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs on Wednesday, October 4 at 4:15 PM ET.
Relevant documents: CCLA submissions to the Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs
About the Canadian Civil Liberties Association
The CCLA is an independent, non-profit organization with supporters from across the country. Founded in 1964, the CCLA is a national human rights organization committed to defending the rights, dignity, safety, and freedoms of all people in Canada.
Media Contact:
Alex Nanoff – 613.709.6318
Media@ccla.org
About the Canadian Civil Liberties Association
The CCLA is an independent, non-profit organization with supporters from across the country. Founded in 1964, the CCLA is a national human rights organization committed to defending the rights, dignity, safety, and freedoms of all people in Canada.
For the Media
For further comments, please contact us at media@ccla.org.
