The Manitoba government is taking steps to make communities safer by announcing a five-point plan that includes strengthening the province’s bail system, Premier Wab Kinew and Justice Minister Matt Wiebe announced Thursday (Feb 29).
“Manitobans in every part of our province deserve to feel safe in their community,” said Kinew. “We know when repeat offenders are released back onto our streets, it impacts not just the victims of a crime, but everyone in the community. We also know that serious offenders on bail are more likely to reoffend without the support they need to make better choices. That is why we are taking action that is tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime.”
The plan includes:
-Bolstering Crown bail policies. Crown attorneys will now be equipped with enhanced policies that include considering impacts of bail on victims and the community, particularly in cases of intimate partner violence and chronic violent offenders. Crown attorneys assess whether detention is necessary to maintain public confidence in the justice system and public safety having regard to all the circumstances including any relevant community perspective.
-Investing in law enforcement resources. The province is giving police the resources they need to help track down offenders who violate their bail conditions by investing $3 million in 2024-25 for 12 new officer positions with the Winnipeg Police Service. The primary focus of these officers will be to arrest offenders who pose a serious risk to the safety and well-being of the community, including those charged with intimate partner violence offences, because they knowingly breach the release conditions imposed by the court, noted the minister. These new officers will work collaboratively with the Manitoba Integrated Violent Offender Apprehension Unit to make the community safer.
-Data and intelligence through business intelligence. The province is investing $514,000 to expand capabilities to provide robust reporting capacity to inform decision-making at provincial and federal levels. This expanded capacity will enable information to be more widely shared with other jurisdictions and policing agencies.
-Enhancing community monitoring and supervision with more than $500,000 to implement an enhanced Community Monitoring and Supervision Program. This program will provide intensive supervision and expanded supports to chronic offenders with better mental-health and substance-use supports.
-Holding a public safety summit. This spring, community members, law enforcement and other agencies will get together to discuss shared priorities and addressing the root causes of crime.
“With our five-point plan on bail reform, we are taking action on public safety in Manitoba,” said Wiebe. “Our government is ensuring Manitoba’s streets are safer with investments in monitoring and supervision, better data collection and stronger policies for Crown attorneys and more tools for law enforcement units. Together, these changes will help us create a future where every Manitoban feels safe in their community.”
“The National Police Federation applauds the Manitoba government for listening to the public, police and justice stakeholders on repeated calls for action on bail reform,” said Bobby Baker, director, prairie region, National Police Federation. “Repeat and chronic offenders put the safety of the public at risk, while at the same time putting a strain on valuable police resources. Today, the province is demonstrating their commitment to an effective and reformed bail system by modernizing and investing in this critical area of public safety.”
