Yukon Government sign outside the Jim Smith Building in downtown Whitehorse. CKRW File Photo Courtesy of Macklen Linke.
Whitehorse, YT – The Yukon Party’s call for the territorial government to push for changes to a “failed” bail system was voted down, with the Yukon Liberals stressing the need for a more evidence-based approach.
Yukon Party Leader Currie Dixon wrote to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in October, urging for changes to the Criminal Code, specifically the removal of credit for time served for repeat offenders and limiting bail for serious crimes including murder, terrorism and human trafficking.
“While there are many other improvements that could be made to our justice system, these specific changes should be prioritized by Ottawa and would work towards restoring Yukoners faith in the bail system,” Dixon said in a Yukon Party statement.
On Wednesday, November 20th, a Yukon Party motion urging the Yukon Government to join calls for bail reform was voted against by all Liberal and Yukon NDP MLAs.
Dixon stated in a separate press release that the Liberal-NDP coalition continues to “drag its feet and protect criminals.”
In an email from Yukon Government Cabinet Communications, they referred to Yukon Lawyer Noel Sinclair who argued that removing credit for pre-sentencing custody could undermine the incentive for offenders to voluntarily stay in custody while awaiting sentencing.
Additionally, Sinclair stated in the legislative assembly that the changes the opposition is asking for likely won’t solve the problems of downtown crime.
“We’re not talking about murders, terrorism or human trafficking offences that offenders are getting out on bail and going and breaking the window at… some retail outlet on Main Street… there are very few people who are accused of murder, terrorism, or human trafficking offences in the Yukon to begin with,” said Sinclair.
