Webinar: Criminal Law Reform – Are Stricter Bail Laws or Tougher Sentencing Necessary?
The Canadian Bar Association's (CBA) National Young Lawyers Section, in partnership with the Law Students Section, invites members of the Weldon community to attend an in-person viewing of the webinar session "Criminal Law Reform - Are Stricter Bail Laws or Tougher Sentencing Necessary?" that focuses on networking and the future of criminal law reform in Canada, examining the contentious issues of stricter bail laws and mandatory minimum sentences.
The recent introduction of legislation such as the Bail and Sentencing Reform Act aims to enhance public safety by making bail harder to obtain for repeat and violent offenders and by imposing tougher penalties for specific crimes. However, critics argue that these “tough on crime” measures, including the expanded use of reverse onus provisions, risk violating Charter rights, disproportionately affect Indigenous and marginalized communities, and contribute to overcrowded jails filled with legally innocent individuals.
Our expert panelists will dissect the evidence surrounding these reforms, weighing the goals of public safety and victim protection against fundamental principles such as the presumption of innocence, judicial discretion, and the potential for long-term systemic consequences.
The session, moderated by Associate Professor Adelina Iftene, will feature the following speakers:
- Brandon Anand Chung, Henein Hutchison Robitaille LLP
- Melanie J. Webb, Webb Barristers
Time
Starts:
Ends:
Location
Weldon Law Building, Room W204
6061 University Ave.
