A Conservative private member’s bill seeking tougher bail rules in Canada has been defeated in the House of Commons, halting the proposed legislation before it could move any further in Parliament. Bill C-242, also known as the Jail Not Bail Act, failed at second reading after a recorded vote of 136 to 193.
Sponsored by Conservative MP Arpan Khanna of Oxford, the bill proposed changes to both the Criminal Code and the Department of Justice Act. Its central aim was to place greater weight on public safety when courts make bail decisions and to tighten release conditions for people accused of crimes who are awaiting trial.
One of the bill’s main proposals was to replace the current “principle of restraint” in bail decisions with a framework more focused on public protection. The legislation also sought to widen the use of reverse-onus provisions for certain violent offences, which would have required accused individuals to show why they should be released rather than placing that burden on the Crown.
Bill C-242 also included measures aimed at repeat offenders and proposed new limits on who could serve as a surety. In addition, the bill called for stricter conditions for non-citizens, including requiring them to surrender their passports as part of their release terms.
Supporters said the proposed changes were needed to respond to growing concerns about repeat violent offenders being granted bail and to strengthen public safety protections.
Critics, however, argued the bill risked weakening the presumption of innocence, a core principle of Canada’s justice system. They also warned the changes could have a disproportionate impact on marginalized communities already overrepresented in the criminal justice system.
Because the bill was defeated at second reading, it will not advance to committee for further review or study.
