Effie Triantafilopoulos, MPP, Urges Federal Government to Reinstate Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Serious Crimes
November 28, 2024
Today, Effie Triantafilopoulos, MPP (Oakville North-Burlington) & Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade filed a Member’s Motion in the Legislature calling on the federal government to reinstate mandatory minimum sentences for serious crimes. This measure is essential to ensure justice for victims and to impose appropriate consequences for offenders.
On October 28th, our government called on the federal government to amend the Criminal Code to strengthen bail laws and keep repeat and violent offenders off the streets. Restoring mandatory minimums is a critical part of this effort to enhance public safety and deter serious crimes.
Serious crimes demand serious consequences. Mandatory minimums would serve as a clear signal to society: certain offenses carry unavoidable penalties. They deter crime, hold offenders accountable and recognize the harm done to victims and their families.
Mandatory minimums also address chronic offending by ensuring repeat offenders face firm and consistent consequences.
Additionally, mandatory minimums also play a crucial role in supporting law enforcement as the prospect of a guaranteed sentence could encourage suspects to cooperate with authorities or accept plea deals. This simplifies legal proceedings, saving time and resources for more complex cases while ensuring that serious crimes receive the attention they deserve.
Justice must be felt by victims and upheld by society. Restoring mandatory minimum sentences is a vital step in ensuring fairness, accountability, and public safety.
The Motion in full:
E. Triantafilopoulos – That, in the opinion of this House, the Government of Canada should restore the mandatory minimum sentences for serious crimes they removed to ensure appropriate penalties and justice for victims.
QUOTES:
“The safety and security of our communities is our number one priority. Restoring mandatory minimum sentences in Ontario for repeat and violent offenders is essential to deter serious crimes and reinforce public confidence in our justice system. The gaps in the Criminal Code when it comes to bail and mandatory minimum sentences are making our communities less safe. By setting clear and predictable consequences, we are sending a strong message that violent and repeat offenders will not be able to return to our neighbourhoods to reoffend, without facing the consequences of their actions.” – Effie Triantafilopoulos, MPP & Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
“Today, we are saying enough is enough. Ontario families deserve meaningful bail reform that prioritizes safety and holds violent offenders accountable. We’re calling on the federal government to enact critical changes to the Criminal Code that will protect our communities, support victims, and ensure dangerous criminals are kept off our streets.” – Associate Minister of Auto Theft and Bail Reform, Hon. Graham McGregor
“The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Association is fully committed to supporting legal reforms that prioritize both community and officer safety. We believe that by working together, we can establish a system that is not only functional and effective but also fully aligned with the Charter of Rights. It is crucial that all levels of government collaborate to ensure the judicial system protects both the community and police officers while preserving the integrity of justice.
The OPP Association strongly urges the immediate restoration of mandatory minimum sentencing for serious crimes—a measure that was removed by the current federal government. This critical reform is essential to ensuring that offenders face appropriate consequences for their actions and that justice is rightfully served for victims. The OPP Association also advocates for concrete changes to bail legislation, aimed at enhancing public safety by keeping repeat and violent offenders off the streets.
Mandatory minimum sentencing, coupled with stronger penalties for high-risk offenders is not only justified but critical to ensuring the most dangerous individuals are incarcerated. This approach will help prevent undue punishment for the young and vulnerable, avoid creating hardened criminals, and prevent jails from becoming overcrowded and unnecessarily costly. Above all, public safety must remain a top priority, and justice must be delivered to those who need it most.” – John Cerasuolo, President and CEO, Ontario Provincial Police Association
“As the unified and trusted voice of policing in Ontario, the Police Association of Ontario (PAO) advocates for legislative, regulatory, and criminal justice reforms aimed at ensuring adequate and effective policing across the province. Additionally, the PAO prioritizes the wellness of its members to enhance public safety.
In this context, the PAO has identified challenges arising from the repeal of mandatory minimum sentencing for certain serious crimes, which it believes undermine its mandate and compromise both officer and public safety. To uphold the principles of sentencing outlined in the Criminal Code of Canada—particularly deterrence and denunciation—the PAO supports reinstating mandatory minimum sentences for the most serious crimes. This position aligns with the fundamental principle that sentencing must reflect the gravity of the offence and the offender’s level of responsibility. It also reinforces broader provincial calls for bail reform to ensure the safety and security of communities.” – Mark Baxter, President, Police Association of Ontario
“While mandatory minimum sentences for violent crimes, if restored, won’t bring our daughter Darian back, they could help protect others from the same tragic fate.” say Flo Bellman and Paul Henderson, who’s daughter Darian Henderson-Bellman’s young life was taken by a repeat criminal offender and bail violator. “Canada’s criminal justice system failed us and it continues to fail other victims of serious crimes”.
Contact
For all questions, please contact:
Katie W. Robinette
Executive Assistant
Katie.robinette@pc.ola.org
416-357-4479