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Standing Committee on Justice Policy

The Legislative Assembly of Ontario Standing Committee on Justice Policy met at Queen’s Park on Wednesday January 18th, 2023 for the purpose of considering committee business pursuant to standing order 113(A) respecting a possible study related to reform of Canada’s bail system as it relates to the provincial administration of justice and public safety.

MPP Trevor Jones (Chatham-Kent–Leamington PC) moved the motion:

Mr. Trevor Jones: Thank you, Chair. Through you, I move that the Standing Committee on Justice Policy meet immediately for the purposes of considering committee business pursuant to standing order 113(a) respecting a possible study related to the reform of Canada’s bail system as it relates to the provincial administration of justice and public safety.

The Chair (Mr. Lorne Coe): Is there any debate? Seeing none, I’ll call the question. All those in favour? Opposed? I declare the motion carried

CLICK this link to read the meeting transcript:  
Committee Transcript 2023-Jan-18 | Legislative Assembly of Ontario (ola.org)

The Standing Committee is looking into bail reform given recent events involving individuals who are alleged to have committed violent offences while on bail for other serious charges in some cases involving violent offences and weapons charges, including the recent fatal shooting of Constable Grzegorz Pierzchala on December 27, 2022.

We owe to our frontline law enforcement personnel and all Ontarians to protect them from threat of violence from individuals on bail pending trial for serious offences involving violence and the use of weapons.

At our January 18th meeting, a motion was presented and passed to move forward. 
CLICK HERE to view a PDF copy of the motion


The Standing Committee will be meeting on January 30th and 31st to hear from witnesses such as:

• Thomas Carrique, Commissioner, Ontario Provincial Police 
• Mark Baxter, President, Police Association of Ontario
• John Cerasuolo, President, Ontario Provincial Police Association
• Jim MacSween, York Regional Police Chief
• Myron Demkiw, Chief, Toronto Police Service
• Jon Reid, President, Toronto Police Association

Ontario Standing Committee on Justice Policy members:

Chair / Président
Mr. Lorne Coe (Whitby PC)

Vice-Chair / Vice-Président
Mr. Sol Mamakwa (Kiiwetinoong ND)

Mr. Robert Bailey (Sarnia–Lambton PC)

Mr. Stephen Blais (Orléans L)

Mr. Lorne Coe (Whitby PC)

Ms. Christine Hogarth (Etobicoke–Lakeshore PC)

Mr. Trevor Jones (Chatham-Kent–Leamington PC)

Mr. Vincent Ke (Don Valley North / Don Valley-Nord PC)

Ms. Natalia Kusendova-Bashta (Mississauga Centre / Mississauga-Centre PC)

Mr. Sol Mamakwa (Kiiwetinoong ND)

Mr. Brian Riddell (Cambridge PC)

Mr. Brian Saunderson (Simcoe–Grey PC)

Mrs. Jennifer (Jennie) Stevens (St. Catharines ND)

MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam (Toronto Centre / Toronto-Centre ND)

Substitutions / Membres remplaçants

Mr. Todd J. McCarthy (Durham PC)

Mr. John Vanthof (Timiskaming–Cochrane ND)

Clerk / Greffière
Ms. Thushitha Kobikrishna

Staff / Personnel
Mr. Andrew McNaught, research officer,
Research Services