In February of this year, we wrote at length on Bill C-14, the Bail and Sentencing Reform Act, which reforms Canada’s bail and sentencing laws, including changes to reverse-onus provisions, bail conditions, sentencing factors, and restrictions on house arrest, to increase public safety.

The bill received Royal Assent on June 15, officially passing into law. The majority of the changes and stricter measures will officially come into force on July 15.

There was local input on Bill C-14 on a couple of levels.

Elgin-St. Thomas-London South MP Andrew Lawton, who sits on the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, put forth an amendment that was included in the final bill, although not without some tweaking.