Sarnia-Lambton's MP says the federal Liberals continue to be soft on crime after a motion calling for bail reform was defeated Monday.
The Conservative motion called on the government to repeal measures which force judges to release violent, repeat offenders, ensure those accused of serious firearms charges do not easily get bail, and ensure that rights of law-abiding Canadians are put ahead of the rights of offenders.
Only Conservatives voted in favour of the motion and it was defeated 205 to 116.
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MP Marilyn Gladu said she's really disappointed in the government.
"We have premiers from 13 provinces and territories, we have police chiefs from across the country calling for tougher bail reform, [and] we've seen police officers that have been killed by folks that have been out on bail for multiple repeat offences."
On January 24, the Village of Point Edward penned a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, supporting a call from the premiers to strengthen the federal bail system. Gladu said on the same day, the Tories brought their motion to the house.
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"We're all on the same page wanting a safer environment, but why these Liberals continue to erode and reduce penalties for violent criminals and let reoffenders on the street is just unacceptable," she said. "We've seen even in Sarnia that crime rates are up, and we've got to not have a revolving door where these violent offenders and these criminals are let out on the streets to harm Canadians."
Gladu pointed to a case from 2021 when 18 people were slaughtered at James Cree Nation by a man who had 59 convictions of violent crime and 120 accusations against him. She also said of the 44 shooting-related homicides that happened in Toronto in 2022, 24 of them were by people who were out of jail on bail.
"It's clear that they're a threat to society and we have to toughen up the laws. Violent crime under the Liberals is up 32 per cent and gang crime is up over 100 per cent."
Gladu said the Tories will continue to fight for federal bail reform.
"We are introducing a bill that will basically say that 'if you are a repeat weapons offender that you will not get out on bail unless it can be justified why you oughta be let out on bail.' Right now they're going the other way."