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Prime Minister Mark Carney deserves some credit. He said he would bring forward amendments to fix the catch-and-release system the Liberals created under Justin Trudeau, and now he has. That’s a step in the right direction. But before Canadians start celebrating, we need to take a closer look at the fine print. The devil, as always, is in the details.

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Carney’s government has announced new bail reform legislation aimed at keeping violent and repeat offenders off our streets. It includes tougher measures for crimes like violent auto theft, break and enter, human trafficking, sexual assault, and other serious offences. One of the headline changes is a “reverse-onus” rule for major crimes, which means the accused will have to prove why they should be released on bail. That’s a welcome shift for a country where far too many violent offenders have been allowed back into our communities, often reoffending within days.

The plan also calls for consecutive sentencing for multiple convictions, restrictions on conditional sentences for sexual offences, and harsher penalties for organized retail theft. Carney also highlighted consecutive sentencing as part of his reform package, but that’s already permitted under Canada’s Criminal Code (R.S.C., 1985, c. C-46). It raises a fair question — is this about strengthening the law, or repackaging what already exists? Alongside these measures, the federal government promises $1.8 billion to boost the RCMP over four years, adding 1,000 new officers and improving pay for cadets.

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