NIPIGON – The newly-elected mayor of Nipigon has bail reform on her agenda during meetings with provincial ministers next week.
Mayor Suzanne Kukko will be attending the Rural Ontario Municipal Conference, where she has a delegation with the Solicitor General Michael Kerzner to discuss the topic.
On Jan. 13, all 10 Canadian premiers penned an open letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau requesting immediate action to strengthen Canada’s bail system.
“As everyone has seen in the news lately there have been a lot of repeat offenders that have been carrying out some pretty violent acts causing death in many instances,” Kukko said.
Kukko acknowledged that northwestern Ontario has seen a rise in violent crime in rural areas.
She said the Nipigon and Schreiber OPP detachment areas have had “very close calls” with violent offenders “that have either been out on bail or out on parole or have a very violent past.”
“So, it’s something that does affect our catchment area for sure. I have been in touch with our [detachment commander] Staff Sgt. Dave Moscall and has given me some information about how some of the stuff that’s been going down,” Kukko said.
Kukko expresses that there is a need for the federal government to address bail reform. Select groups of violent offenders are too dangerous to be out on the streets.
"What we are asking is to have more restrictions on bail and parole,” she said.
Kukko wants the government to consider denying bail or parole to repeat violent offenders. Alternatively, Kukko suggests that violent offenders be required to wear GPS tracking devices, so the police can conduct constant surveillance on the offender at all times.