Sask. government, Battlefords mayors pen letter to feds, demanding bail reform

WATCH: Sask. Premier Scott Moe and mayors of The Battlefords are demanding stiffer penalties for drug traffickers and bail reform.

The Government of Saskatchewan, in addition to the mayors of The Battlefords, have penned a letter to the federal government, advocating for changes to the Criminal Code of Canada – including bail reform.

“We see the same repeat offenders committing violent crimes in our community, and obviously that has an effect on how people in our community feel about safety in the Battlefords,” Minister of Health and Sask. Party MLA for The Battlefords Jeremy Cockrill told reporters Wednesday.

“It’s also important that if you commit a criminal act, that you have pay the consequences for that act.”

Members of the provincial government, in addition to North Battleford Mayor Kelli Hawtin and Battleford Mayor Ames Leslie signed the letter addressed to federal Justice Minister Sean Fraser.

“In order to use our resources more effectively, we really want those violent repeat offenders dealt with and taken off of our streets and out of our communities,” Mayor Hawtin said.

“We’re not asking for more people in prison. We’re asking for the right people to be in prison.”

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Both mayors spoke about the negative stigma their communities have had to endure due to the same group of repeat offenders.

“We have this stigma because of a few individuals in our community that continue to commit these crimes, giving us a bad reputation,” Mayor Leslie explained.

“Part of this bail reform will help us change that image of The Battlefords and hopefully bring more people to our wonderful community.”

In addition to bail reform, Premier Scott Moe said the province is requesting strengthened penalties for those involved in drug trafficking.

“There’s no place for them here,” he told reporters, referring to traffickers. “Our intent is to eradicate crystal meth and to eradicate fentanyl from communities in this province and we’re going to do our level best.”

Provincial officials also spoke extensively on its efforts in providing recovery supports to those who have fallen into a life of addiction – referring to funding for recovery beds and its planned expansion of urgent care centres.

A spokesperson for Canada’s Ministry of Justice says legislation is set to be introduced later this fall - which will strengthen bail and sentencing laws, including for repeat violent offenders.

“It’s a commitment our government made during the election, where we outlined plans to toughen the Criminal Code and make bail laws stricter for violent and organized crime, home invasions, car thefts, and human trafficking,” the statement read.

“Provinces and territories have a critical role too in how these laws are applied on the ground, and we’ll keep working with them to support safer communities.”