Doug Ford's Crime Crackdown: Pepper Spray and Bail Reform Proposals
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is positioning himself as a law-and-order leader ahead of the provincial legislature's return, announcing measures to expand jail capacity and reform bail procedures. However, critics argue that his government is overlooking immediate changes that could be implemented without delay.
Slow Progress on Correctional Facilities
During a visit to Brockville on Monday, Ford announced the next steps in expanding Ontario's jail capacity, specifically through the Brockville Correctional Complex and St. Lawrence Valley Correctional and Treatment Centre. Unfortunately, this project has been moving at a glacial pace since its initial announcement in 2020. The government is only now issuing a "Request for Qualifications" (RFQ), which is merely a preliminary call for companies to express interest in bidding, not an actual contract tender.
While Ford's team can point to other correctional facility expansions as successes, and Eastern Ontario facilities indeed require upgrades, this latest announcement represents minimal progress. "An announcement about taking the temperature of building contractors is weak sauce," critics note, highlighting the government's sluggish approach to infrastructure improvements.
Proposed Crime-Fighting Measures
Last week, Attorney General Doug Downey wrote to federal counterpart Sean Fraser with two concrete proposals:
- Legalizing the carrying and use of pepper spray for self-defence purposes
- Implementing mandatory DNA collection upon arrest for sexual offenses, with automatic sample destruction upon acquittal or non-conviction
On Monday, Ford announced additional measures including livestreaming bail hearings online for greater public transparency and requiring judges to provide written justifications when granting bail to violent offenders. "Right now, when bail is granted to a violent offender, there is no written justification provided," Ford stated. "We need to change that to ensure clear reasoning is provided with greater consistency in decisions and easier public review."
Federal Bail Reform Challenges
Ford also called on the federal government to pass Bill C-14, which would make it more difficult for certain violent offenders to obtain bail. This follows Bill C-75, passed over six years ago, which made bail the default option under the criminal code. The legislation states that "a peace officer, justice or judge shall give primary consideration to the release of the accused at the earliest reasonable opportunity and on the least onerous conditions."
However, even if Bill C-14 were passed immediately, Ontario's judges and justices of the peace would be ill-equipped to implement it effectively. Their training provides minimal instruction on how or when to deny bail, despite this remaining within their legal authority. Ford and Downey must address this training gap, or federal reforms will have limited impact in Ontario.
Contradictions in Self-Defence Policy
A significant contradiction exists in Ford's approach to self-defence. While advocating for pepper spray legalization, his government's guidelines for police and prosecutors would still result in charges for anyone using pepper spray in Ontario. Last summer, Ford called for Castle Laws in Canada, but the criminal code already contains clear self-defence provisions. The problem lies in provincial guidelines, particularly in Ontario, which remain murky and often lead to charges against those defending themselves or loved ones from violent attackers.
Ford is correct to advocate for these changes, but there are more immediate actions his government could take that would prove more effective. Focusing on updating police and prosecutor guidelines, improving judicial training, and accelerating infrastructure projects would demonstrate a more comprehensive approach to crime reduction. As the legislature prepares to reconvene, Ontarians will be watching to see whether Ford's rhetoric translates into meaningful action on public safety concerns.
