Ottawa discusses sweeping bail, sentencing reforms in Halifax

Justice Minister Sean Fraser revealed tougher crime measures in Halifax.

The federal government says its sweeping bail and sentencing reforms will help combat retail theft and violence against transit workers.

Federal Justice Minister Sean Fraser was in Halifax Thursday, touting the changes to the Bail and Sentencing Reform Act, or Bill C-14, which aims to crack down on crime.

The changes to bail and sentencing laws will come into effect on July 15.

Ottawa says the proposed reforms would crack down on repeat violent offenders and organized crime, which is often linked to retail theft, and help protect transit workers from violent behaviours.

Specifically, the changes include:

• creating a new aggravating factor for retail theft
• expanding the existing aggravating factor for violence against a transit operator so that it applies to all transit employees

While in Halifax, Fraser visited Spring Garden Road, an area that has been a target for retail crime in recent years.

Kurt Bulger, part-owner of Jennifer’s of Nova Scotia, has been on Spring Garden Road for 43 years.

“It’s no worse or no better than it has been in 43 years,” Bulger said. “Some of the drug use is a little bit more visible. The police department, for whatever reason they’re not applying the resources where they should or for how they could.

“We’re being left to sink or swim here.”

With files from CTV News Atlantic’s Vanessa Wright

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