The Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association (Downtown Van) welcomes today’s announcement from Prime Minister Carney and the Federal Government on bail reform and organized retail theft.
For years, we’ve been advocating at all levels of government on behalf of our 8,000 members for meaningful change regarding community safety, including bail reform and non-violent repeat offenders.
Today’s announcement brings a long-awaited sense of relief and marks an important moment for downtowns across Canada. The move toward reverse-onus bail will help address the “catch-and-release” cycle that has strained our justice system and communities, particularly storefront businesses and restaurants, for too long.
We look forward to seeing these changes in action and the positive outcomes they will bring, and we thank Prime Minister Carney and the Federal Government for implementing this much-needed upgrade to bail reform in our country.
Our work at Downtown Van is far from over, and we remain committed to holding the government accountable, ensuring these changes are implemented promptly and effectively.
Jane Talbot, President and CEO, Downtown Van