Federal government responds to Ponoka's C-75 concerns

PONOKA -- Justice Minister Sean Fraser has issued a response to the Town of Ponoka's concerns relating to Canada's bail laws. 

Mayor Kevin Ferguson expressed his dissatisfaction with the current legislation in a letter penned to the Minister in early September. The letter specified that Bill C-75 has created leniency in regards to bail restrictions for violent offenders. Ferguson pointed to a case from November 5, 2020, when Chantelle Firingstoney, a young mother, was found dead in her home in Ponoka. She had been murdered by a man who was out on bail while facing charges for murdering another man earlier that year.

Ferguson went on to say in his September 9th correspondence that he's aware of an increase in criminal behaviour in the community since the implementation of C-75 in 2019. He states in his letter that much of the crime in Ponoka is done by a small number of individuals who are released back into the community after committing criminal acts.

Here's the response from Canada's Justice Minister Sean Fraser from October 23, 2025:

"I am grateful for your recent engagement on criminal justice reform. As Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, I am committed to taking action to ensure that Canadians feel safe in their communities," said Fraser. "To this end, I am writing to share our government's proposed changes to strengthen Canada's bail regime and implement tougher sentencing measures. Today, I introduced Bill C-14, the Bail and Sentencing Reform Act, in the House of Commons. The Act contains over 80 targeted changes to the bail and sentencing framework in the Criminal Code."

In regards to bail reform, Fraser says that the new C-14 will establish reverse onus provisions, making detention the starting point for certain offences. In these cases, the accused must demonstrate why they should be released on bail. It will also impose more stringent requirements for obtaining bail, particularly in cases of repeat or violent offending.

He notes that C-14 will also direct police and courts not to release an accused when doing so would be against the public interest or when detention is necessary to protect victims, witnesses, or children. It will also require the courts to consider specific factors --such as random or unprovoked violence, outstanding charges, and the presence of weapons -- and to set stricter conditions, including weapons bans, when release is granted.

"This is the latest in a series of reforms to strengthen community safety and Canada's justice system," said Fraser. "In the coming months, the Government of Canada will bring forward further changes to address court delays, strengthen victims’ rights, better protect people facing sexual and intimate partner violence, and keep children safe from horrific crimes."

As of today, the proposed legislation is still before its first reading. It's not known whether it will get the support it needs from Canada's opposition parties in order to pass. The Conservative Party of Canada has introduced its own bail reform legislation, entitled the "Bail not Jail" Act. It's still not clear whether either of the two pieces of proposed legislation will become law.