Canada

Canada: Ontario Introduces New Cash Bail Requirements

Will this help stop the revolving door of repeat offenders or create a wealth-based attack on presumed innocence?

Published 2 days ago

Canada: Ontario Introduces New Cash Bail Requirements

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Above: Doug Downey, Ontario Attorney General, announces bail reforms in Vaughan, Canada, on Aug. 14. Image credit: Doug Downey/X

The Spin

Pro-government narrative

Ontario's bail reforms are long overdue and exactly what communities need to stop the revolving door of repeat offenders. Requiring upfront cash deposits means accused persons face real financial consequences the moment they walk out of court, not vague promises that are nearly impossible to collect. These measures give police and prosecutors the tools to hold dangerous offenders accountable and keep neighborhoods safe.

Doug Downey on X Toronto Sun

OPP Association on X

Government-critical narrative

Ontario's mandatory cash bail law creates a two-tiered justice system where wealth determines freedom, punishing people who are still presumed innocent. Criminal procedure is a federal power, and the province simply cannot override the federal Criminal Code or strip accused persons of their Charter right to reasonable bail. The law is unconstitutional and will only worsen the already overcrowded and inhumane conditions inside Ontario prisons.

Canadian Civil Liberties Association