Langley Advance Times runs this weekly feature, call it “At Your Service.”
It’s another forum in which to put questions to our local politicians about key issues facing our community and its residents.
Using a basic question-and-answer format, elected officials will be asked one question at a time and given the opportunity to respond (to a maximum of 250 words) on that said issue.
Alternating between elected groups, Langley City and Langley Township councils, Langley school board, Langley MLAs, and Langley MPs each have a chance to participate.
The answers provided will be published in their entirety online each Sunday.
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QUESTION
Both Langley MPs were asked: How should the criminal justice system be reformed to deal with habitual offenders?
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ANSWERS
MP John Aldag
A. Serious crimes will always receive serious punishments.
The laws are clear: if an accused poses a serious risk to public safety, if there are concerns that they will not appear in court or that they will breach their conditions – they should be denied bail.
Managing repeat violent offenders requires all levels of government to work together on an integrated response to keep people safe.
The federal government is responsible for criminal law and the provincial governments are responsible for the administration of justice, including investigating and prosecuting most criminal code offences, conducting bail hearings, and enforcing bail conditions within their respective authority.
Federal Justice Minister David Lametti will be meeting with the provinces to discuss this important issue.
Organizations like the Canadian Bar Association have said that reducing court delays is central to reducing re-offending.
This has been at the forefront of our work at the federal level.
The government changed bail conditions for repeat offenders with weapons through the previous Bill C-75. Bill C-75, without contravening the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, amended the criminal code to introduce a “reverse onus” for bail imposed on an accused charged with certain firearms offences; the accused is detained pending trial unless they can prove to the court that bail is justified.
Our government also made it harder to release offenders on bail for certain infractions, such as intimate partner violence. Canadians deserve to feel safe in their communities, and this continues to be a priority for our government.
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MP Tako van Popta
A. Canadians are seeing firsthand the deadly impacts of soft-on-crime Liberal policies.
A small number of dangerous repeat violent offenders are responsible for a disproportionate amount of crime, and in B.C. alone, about 200 frequent offenders were collectively involved in 11,600 confrontations with the police within the span of a year.
At justice committee, I asked OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique what impact the Liberal Bill C-75 has had on law enforcement officers. This bill was passed in 2018 and made it easier for violent criminals to receive bail.
He informed me that between the years of 2018 and 2022 in Ontario, there was a 72-per-cent increase in violent crimes committed by repeat violent offenders who were on bail.
The Liberals have worsened the situation further with the recent passage of their Bill C-5, which eliminated mandatory prison time for serious crimes committed with guns.
Every premier in Canada and many police associations are calling on the government to reform Canada’s broken bail system.
The Liberals must immediately repeal the elements of Bills C-75 and C-5 that enable repeat offenders, and they must act to strengthen Canada’s bail laws so that those who are prohibited from possessing firearms do not easily get bail.
A Conservative government will reform our broken bail system to ensure the small number of dangerous repeat violent offenders are not put back on the streets. We will enact common sense laws to protect Canadians, keep our communities safe, and restore safe streets.
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UP NEXT
Next week, Langley City council is being asked: How would a de-integration of Langley RCMP into separate City and Township detachments affect policing and public safety in the City, and would you support or oppose it?
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Watch for their answers online Sunday.
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PAST COVERAGE
AT YOUR SERVICE: City council weighs in on supervised consumption sites
AT YOUR SERVICE: Langley trustees applaud positives found amid pandemic
AT YOUR SERVICE: Township council weighs in on lack of industrial land
AT YOUR SERVICE: MLAs see feds as partners in SkyTrain to Langley
AT YOUR SERVICE: Creating more housing, on all fronts, critical to stabilization: MPs
AT YOUR SERVICE: Heat wave another call to action – City council
AT YOUR SERVICE: Pools need to be part of Township-wide recreation planning
AT YOUR SERVICE: No current need for year-round schooling in Langley, trustees agree
AT YOUR SERVICE: MLAs suggest staying the course on battling of B.C. wildfire
AT YOUR SERVICE: MPs call for borders to be safely re-opened
AT YOUR SERVICE: Langley City council wants to keep higher density development north of Nicomekl
AT YOUR SERVICE: Passports key to keeping B.C. businesses open, people safe during pandemic
AT YOUR SERVICE: Trustees ponder what kids are missing out on during pandemic
AT YOUR SERVICE: Education should trump rules for vaccination of health-care workers, suggest MLAs
AT YOUR SERVICE: How to handle rising housing prices
AT YOUR SERVICE: City council divided on call for indoor pool
AT YOUR SERVICE: Council ponders vaccine requirements for workers
AT YOUR SERVICE: Skyrocketing enrolment prompts intensified lobby by trustees
AT YOUR SERVICE: Political stripes aside, MLAs agree heat dome was tragic and action required
AT YOUR SERVICE: MPs agree much must be done to right wrongs for Indigenous
AT YOUR SERVICE: Is pay parking in the City a viable consideration?
AT YOUR SERVICE: Some suggest more needed to protect floodplains from development
AT YOUR SERVICE: Monitoring student transport not good use of school district resources – trustees
AT YOUR SERVICE: Liberal caucus floats all-party committee in reaction to emergencies
AT YOUR SERVICE: Langley MPs address issue of rising food costs
AT YOUR SERVICE: Inflation inevitably hits City taxpayers in the pocketbook
AT YOUR SERVICE: Future of Aldergrove core up for debate
AT YOUR SERVICE: Trees and more greenspace at root of climate change solutions
AT YOUR SERVICE: Inflation inevitably hits City taxpayers in the pocketbook
AT YOUR SERVICE: Councillors differ on future of SkyTrain beyond Langley City
AT YOUR SERVICE: Bigger schools not necessarily solution to rising land costs
AT YOUR SERVICE: High gas prices of concern for MLAs of both stripes
AT YOUR SERVICE: Empty homes can be safety concern, but not huge concern in City
AT YOUR SERVICE: Most of council content with current pothole repairs
AT YOUR SERVICE: Survey gives school district tools for staff recruitment, retention
AT YOUR SERVICE: Liberal MLAs call for overhaul to B.C.’s student funding model
AT YOUR SERVICE: Canada must continue its support of Ukraine, MPs
AT YOUR SERVICE: Best use of industrial land paramount to Langley City councillors
AT YOUR SERVICE: More ALR land needs to be used for farming: Most of council
AT YOUR SERVICE: Local MLAs agree more must be done to make life affordable in B.C.
AT YOUR SERVICE: Federal parties working on multiple fronts to end hate crimes
AT YOUR SERVICE: Langley City ponders cannabis retail policy
AT YOUR SERVICE – Most on council say parks and rec plans address future growth
AT YOUR SERVICE: School district moves forward on reconciliation efforts with Indigenous partners
AT YOUR SERVICE: MLAs agree diking upgrades needed, divided on if enough is being done
AT YOUR SERVICE: Local MPs disagree on whether 2 billion trees can be planted by 2030
AT YOUR SERVICE: In light of SkyTrain coming, Langley City embarks on parking study
AT YOUR SERVICE: Langley Township should consider schools for future cooling centres
AT YOUR SERVICE: Opposition MLAs critical of NDP’s affordable housing record
AT YOUR SERVICE: Federal clean energy efforts lauded by MP
AT YOUR SERVICE: MPs debate how feds chose to halt trucker convoy
AT YOUR SERVICE: New Langley City council look for solutions to rising costs
AT YOUR SERVICE – A few Langley Township council members speak to ongoing single-family home demands
AT YOUR SERVICE: Political views aside, MLAs wish residents health and safety this holiday
AT YOUR SERVICE: MPs agree new year’s resolution must focus on inflation
AT YOUR SERVICE: New floodplain report coming to council this spring
AT YOUR SERVICE – Protected bike lanes on key Township roads is encouraged by council
AT YOUR SERVICE: Trustees divided on question of socializing kids
AT YOUR SERVICE: MLAs agree much to be done to safeguard against climate-related disasters
AT YOUR SERVICE: MPs agree new year’s resolution must focus on inflation
AT YOUR SERVICE: City’s residential garbage pickup remains status quo – at least for now
AT YOUR SERVICE – Protected bike lanes on key Township roads is encouraged by council
AT YOUR SERVICE: Pair of trustees agree parent engagement is critical and can grow
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