Downtown businesses association demands bail reform to restore public safety on urban streets

Businesses in cities and main streets across the country say a “humanitarian crisis is playing out in” Canada’s communities and they want the federal government to act swiftly to tackle the crime, addiction and social issues they say are hurting businesses and downtowns.

The issues, business groups say, have been on the rise in recent years but were made significantly worse by the pandemic. 

“Repeat offenders are significant drivers of crime and the current bail system does not protect Canadians or small businesses,” Kate Fenske, chair of International Downtown Association Canada (IDA Canada), which represents urban business districts across Canada, said Tuesday.

“Every single day in communities across Canada there are stories of crime perpetrated by an individual who was on bail or breached bail conditions. This cannot continue.”

Bill C-48, which became law in December, made it harder for people accused of violent crime to be granted bail. IDA Canada wants a systematic review of the bail system in the hopes of making it similarly difficult for repeat offenders to get bail when they are accused of theft. 

IDA Canada, which held a press conference in Ottawa Tuesday, said it also wants the federal government, the provinces, territories and municipalities to provide dedicated funding to tackle homelessness, addictions and mental health issues. 

“It is imperative that all levels of government work collaboratively bringing together stakeholders, implementing solutions to tackle the humanitarian crisis playing out in our communities,” said Fenske, who is also CEO of Downtown Winnipeg BIZ, which promotes the city’s downtown core.

She said governments need to “focus on developing supports, resources and training programs for individuals with precarious housing, addictions or mental health concerns.”

Mental health, addictions support needed, says IDA Canada

Puneeta McBryan, head of Edmonton’s Downtown Business Association, said the mental health and addictions crisis in her city became more noticeable after the pandemic. 

“2021 and 2022 was really the first time that we had businesses raising the alarm,” she said. 

McBryan said that while business groups in Edmonton and other centres are able to identify the problems hurting their businesses, they don’t know how to solve them. 

“We’re not experts on these issues,” she said.

“What we’re asking for the federal government to do is to listen to their colleagues province, by province, and law enforcement, city by city … we’re hearing from all our partners on the ground that our current judicial system …[isn’t] allowing our justice system to do its job.”

McBryan said there also needs to be improved post incarceration mental health care and social service supports because that is “really where the system starts to fall apart.”