Tory motion on bail reform defeated in House of Commons
The motion failed 139–189 in Parliament on September 22, with all "Yays" from Conservatives.

A Conservative motion to deny bail or parole to repeat criminals failed in the House on Monday, opposed by the Liberals, Bloc, and NDP.
On September 18, Conservative MP Larry Brock introduced a motion to deny bail, probation, parole, or house arrest to repeat serious offenders, seeking 10-year minimum jail terms for "violent criminals."
The motion failed 139–189 in Parliament on September 22, with all "Yays" from Conservatives. MP Brock criticized the Liberals for keeping Canada's "revolving-door justice system wide open."
In recent months, the Conservative Party has been critical of the ease with which criminals get out on bail under Canadian law. One such example includes a Welland, Ontario, man accused of home invasion and sexual assault against a toddler.
Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre expressed his dismay, as a father himself, and introduced the "Jail Not Bail Act" on September 11.
The proposed legislation targets a 2019 Criminal Code amendment (Bill C-75) that prioritizes the earliest and least restrictive release of an accused with three or more prior convictions.
“It will replace the liberal principle of restraint,” Poilievre said, meaning judges won't have to release the accused as early as possible under the least restrictive conditions.
The proposed legislation would have created a new major offences category, requiring anyone accused of sexual assault, firearms offences, kidnapping, human trafficking, home invasion, robbery, extortion, arson, and other serious charges to prove it is safe to release them on bail.
Ordinarily, the Crown must "show cause" for detention, but with reverse onus, the accused must justify their release.
Conservatives will bring forward numerous bills in an effort to fix Canada's failing criminal justice system, Pierre Poilievre announces.
— Rebel News (@RebelNewsOnline) September 11, 2025
"We want to lock up these criminals and throw away the key to keep our communities safe, to reverse the damage the Liberals have done." pic.twitter.com/ey8OBdE6yk
Last week, Justice Minister Sean Fraser announced criminal justice reform would be forthcoming this fall including stricter bail and sentencing for organized crime, car theft, home invasion, and human trafficking.
Liberal Bills C-5 and C-75, unpopular for ending mandatory minimum sentences for certain violent crimes and prioritizing offender release under "least onerous conditions," have exacerbated national crime trends.
“We will be strengthening the system and cracking down on violent crime with new legislation this Fall,” Fraser wrote September 5 on social media.
The Liberal Party also pledged to implement stricter bail laws for home invasions, auto theft, human trafficking, organized crime, and violent crime last election.
Alex Dhaliwal
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Alex Dhaliwal is a Political Science graduate from the University of Calgary. He has actively written on relevant Canadian issues with several prominent interviews under his belt.
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COMMENTS
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Bernhard Jatzeck commented 2025-09-24 21:23:44 -0400The government loves the mayhem it’s created.