Yukon Party Renews Call For Bail Reform

WHITEHORSE – The Yukon Party Official Opposition is again calling on the territorial Liberal government to push their federal counterparts for specific and urgent actions on bail reform, and to reinstate the territory’s Prolific Offender Management Program.

The renewed call follows media reports on a recent case where a Whitehorse man is facing extradition to the United States for serious charges including murder, allegedly committed while he was released on conditions following charges for serious crimes committed here.

This case highlights the need to close the gaps in Canada’s justice system.

Last fall, Yukon Party Leader Currie Dixon wrote to the Prime Minister urging the federal government to improve the bail system, highlighting two priority actions which had previously been called for by the Ontario government with the support of police unions. The October 2024 letter called on the federal government to address the problem of repeat offenders being arrested but then getting bail and committing more crimes.

The letter requested two specific measures:

• removal of double credits applied to sentences for time-served for repeat and violent offenders; and
• removal of bail availability for certain serious crimes including murder, terrorism, and human trafficking.

In response, the territory’s Minister of Justice claimed the Liberal approach to dealing with rising crime is working and defended it, telling reporters: ‘Bail is not a joke, it is an opportunity for people to be released following a criminal charge being laid against them, remembering that they are not convicted of anything.’

The Prolific Offender Management Program was phased out under the Liberals after 2017 and despite a Liberal commitment to reintroduce the program, it has yet to be re-established.

“Yukoners and Canadians are tired of the Liberal’s catch and release bail system,” said Dixon. “People have lost faith in our justice system, and urgent action is needed to restore that faith with effective reform to the bail system. I urge the territorial government and the justice minister to take this more seriously, as Yukoners are saying enough is enough.”

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Contact:
Tim Kucharuk
Media Director
(867) 689-7874