Major changes are coming to Canada’s bail and sentencing laws this month.
On June 15, 2026, the Bail and Sentencing Reform Act (Bill C-14) received royal assent. The legislation will make bail and sentencing laws stricter starting on July 15, 2026, when it comes into force.
The legislation includes targeted changes to clauses in the Criminal Code, Youth Criminal Justice Act and the National Defence Act.
Bill C-14 will make it harder to get bail in cases of violent and repeat offending, organized crime.
When deciding bail for the accused, courts must take into account the safety of the public, as well as the victims and witnesses. It must also consider whether the allegations of violence were random or unprovoked, if there are outstanding charges, and if a weapons ban is necessary.
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There will also be tougher sentencing laws for serious and violent crimes, including car theft and extortion. This means those found guilty could spend more time in prison.
The Act creates new reverse onuses, meaning the starting point is detention, and the accused would have to prove why they should be released on bail. This includes crimes involving violent and organized crime-related auto theft; break and enter of a home; human trafficking and smuggling; assaults and sexual assaults involving choking, suffocating or strangulation; extortion involving violence, and those charged with a serious, violent offence if they have two or more prior convictions for similar offences.
“The Government of Canada has also proposed changes to address court delays, strengthen victims’ rights, better protect people facing sexual and intimate partner violence, and keep children safe from crimes,” reads a backgrounder from the federal government.
According to Ottawa, these changes to the Criminal Code will only be effective if provincial and territorial governments support their implementation.
“This includes properly managing and resourcing the administration of justice, including police and prosecution services under their jurisdiction, bail courts, bail supervision programs, provincial courts, jails and victim services,” reads the backgrounder.
These reforms to bail and sentencing laws were announced last year.