Bail reform among issues addressed at northern municipality meeting
Issues dominated the agenda Tuesday as mayors and councils from across northern Ontario got down to work in Parry Sound.
Tuesday was Day 2 of the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM) conference. Police were invited to relay a message: bail reform is needed.
"Always interesting to see and hear the issues that are common in many of the communities,” said Timmins Police Chief Dan Foy.
“We're here to listen and to talk about some of the goals and objectives we have in order to enhance community safety."
Specifically, police have been calling for changes to Bill C-75 that governs bail.
They say repeat offenders have been causing problems in every community and a taskforce has been struck to get senior levels of government to act.
"I use an example where in Timmins we had someone who was out on several charges committing further offences,” Foy said.
“If we had bail reform, then the lens would be different in regards to releasing offenders."
Sault Ste. Mare Coun. Sandra Hollingsworth said it’s a big issue.
"It's a very important issue to the citizens of Sault Ste. Marie,” Hollingsworth said.
“I do receive phone calls and so does our police."
Homelessness and opioids were two more major issues that northern Ontario community leaders want to see tackled.
The audience also heard from Vic Fedeli in his role as Minister of Economic Development and Trade.
"Well I believe, I absolutely believe that critical minerals will be the new arms race because there is not enough ethically sourced nickel in the world," Fedeli said.
Timmins Coun. John Curley said these sorts of meetings can produce results.
"When we have ministers come and talk to an event like this and it's what we want to hear, they're proving the action because they're putting the dollars towards the north and it's been a long time coming," Curley said.
FONOM is already compiling statistics for its pitch to the federal government on bail reform.
The conference wraps Wednesday with an address from Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.