Canada's Justice Minister David Lametti is accusing Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives of using tragedies like the slaying of a young Ontario Provincial Police officer "to try to score political points." Lametti rises during Question Period, Tuesday, January 31, 2023 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
OTTAWA – Canada’s justice minister is accusing Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives of using tragedies such as the killing of a young Ontario Provincial Police officer “to try to score political points.”
Lametti made the remark today in the House of Commons while debating a motion put forward by the Conservatives, which calls on members of Parliament to push Ottawa to enact various bail reforms.
Raquel Dancho, the party’s public safety critic, says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government has failed to act in the face of violence committed by offenders who have been released on bail.
She pointed to the fact that one of the two people charged with first-degree murder in the late December killing of OPP Const. Greg Pierzchala had initially been denied bail on a separate assault and weapons charge, but was released and later sought for arrest after he failed to show up for a court hearing.
Dancho says premiers and police chiefs are demanding action from Ottawa, and the party’s motion says Ottawa must ensure that the justice system “puts the rights of law-abiding Canadians ahead of the rights of violent, repeat offenders.”
Lametti told the House he’s looking into concerns voiced by premiers, but is “disappointed” the Tories are “using tragedies to try to score political points” when the bail system is more complex than they suggest.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 2, 2023.
