A Conservative Call or a Deeper Crisis in Canada’s Justice System-
Today “Jail Not Bail” town hall at the Gateway Recreation Centre drew a packed crowd, reflecting a growing public anxiety about crime, safety, and justice in Canada. The event, hosted by Members of Parliament Arpan Khanna and Larry Brock—the Conservative Party’s Shadow Minister for Justice and Attorney General—captured a mood of deep frustration with what many see as a lenient and failing justice system.
While the Conservative slogan “Stop the crime, Jail not Bail” resonated emotionally with the audience, the discussion also revealed a deeper tension: between the desire for stronger law enforcement and the need for fairness, rehabilitation, and social reform.
Arpan Khanna opened by emphasizing that “every Canadian is concerned about crime,” pointing to rising rates of homicides, robberies, and assaults. He argued that the Liberal government’s “soft-on-crime” policies have allowed repeat offenders to walk free on bail, citing tragic examples—like a father shot dead in front of his daughter, with the accused later granted bail.
This message found strong resonance among attendees, many of whom nodded as Khanna and Brock criticized what they called a “broken system that protects criminals instead of victims.” Brock added that their proposed “Jail Not Bail” legislation would prioritize public safety over judicial leniency and hold repeat violent offenders accountable.
However, this framing—while emotionally powerful—reduces a complex national challenge to a matter of political ideology. It places blame squarely on the federal government, overlooking deeper systemic issues such as judicial discretion, mental health, addiction, and socioeconomic inequality.
Both Khanna and Larry Brock addressed the audience, a long line quickly formed at the microphones. Citizens from every walk of life—school teachers, frontline health-care workers, retired police officers, business owners, students, and employers—stepped forward to express concern about rising crime and the lack of tougher laws.
Many raised pressing issues such as money laundering, border security, fentanyl trafficking, mortgage fraud, and judicial accountability. One Indigenous woman spoke passionately about feeling discriminated against in the very land that belongs to Indigenous people, calling for respect and equality rather than token recognition.
Others voiced frustration about mismanagement of public funds, government favouritism, and perceived bias in decision-making processes. The overall tone of the discussion reflected both fear and fatigue—a sense that the system is losing control, and that trust in institutions has eroded.
The “Jail Not Bail” proposal, promoted by the Conservatives as a “common-sense” alternative to the Liberal government’s Bill C-314, aims to restrict bail for repeat and violent offenders. But the debate surrounding bail reform is far more nuanced.
Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees the right to reasonable bail, designed to prevent unjust detention before trial. Tightening bail laws without addressing root causes could disproportionately affect marginalized groups, particularly Indigenous peoples and those battling mental health or addiction issues.
Even Larry Brock acknowledged this contradiction, noting that many repeat offenders are “so far gone” due to addiction or mental illness that they need treatment, not just punishment. The question remains: can a justice system built on incarceration also foster rehabilitation?
The town hall went beyond bail reform. Speakers and attendees raised issues of border security, drug trafficking, mortgage fraud, and the infiltration of criminal money into Canada’s economy. They also criticized underfunded border services, which allow smugglers and traffickers to operate with relative ease—only about one percent of goods and vehicles crossing the border are inspected.
While these concerns are valid, they reveal how the public conflates multiple crises—economic, social, and moral—under the umbrella of “crime.” A call for harsher laws may sound like a solution, but without addressing mental health care, addiction recovery, housing insecurity, and systemic inequality, such measures risk treating symptoms rather than causes.
Both MPs emphasized that this is not just a policy debate but a civic duty. They urged citizens to raise these concerns directly with their Members of Parliament and demand action on justice reform.
They also announced that on November 7th, the Opposition Conservative Party will formally introduce the “Jail Not Bail” bill in Parliament—a legislative effort aimed at tightening bail conditions for repeat and violent offenders. According to Khanna and Brock, this bill is designed to prioritize public safety, restore accountability, and ensure that those who repeatedly harm others are no longer easily released back into communities.
Throughout the event, there were pointed references to Prime Minister Trudeau’s past ethics controversies and the perceived lack of accountability from federal agencies such as the RCMP. These criticisms, while partisan in tone, underline a broader crisis of trust in government institutions.
When citizens feel that rules apply unequally—that politicians are not held to the same standards as ordinary people—faith in the justice system collapses. The repeated demand heard throughout the evening was simple but profound: fairness, transparency, and safety.
The “Jail Not Bail” town hall succeeded in giving voice to widespread concerns about public safety and justice. It reflected real fear and frustration, not just partisan anger. Yet, while Khanna and Brock offered strong rhetoric and decisive language, the challenge of crime in Canada cannot be solved through slogans alone.
Lasting safety will require a balanced strategy—one that combines firm accountability for violent offenders with investment in prevention, treatment, and social supports. Otherwise, Canada risks creating a cycle where punishment substitutes for progress, and “Jail Not Bail” becomes not a solution, but a symptom of deeper social breakdown.
Yog Rahi Gupta Freelance Writer.
