Advocacy WIN! Federal reforms reflect municipal priorities

A key advocacy effort from Alberta Municipalities (ABmunis) has paid off! The federal government has passed the Bail and Sentencing Reform Act (Bill C-14).  

This bill introduces over 80 changes to strengthen bail and sentencing laws, directly responding to long-standing municipal concerns about repeat offending and community safety. These changes align closely with a Request for Decision passed at ABmunis’ Spring 2021 Municipal Leaders Caucus, where members called for reforms to bail processes, action on prolific offenders, and a justice system better equipped to prevent repeat crime.  

The new legislation makes it harder for repeat and violent offenders to obtain bail and introduces tougher sentencing measures, helping address the “catch and release” concerns raised by municipalities. It also supports improved data collection to monitor outcomes and strengthen the system over time.  

While more work remains, particularly around court backlogs and system resourcing, this reform represents meaningful progress toward ensuring all Albertans have timely access to justice and safer communities.