Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas has taken a firm stance to support Bill C-14 as it makes its way through parliament.
Bill C-14, the Bail and Sentencing Reform Act would amend sections of the Criminal Code, Youth Criminal Justice Act and the National Defence Act. The bill mainly delivers in two areas, providing stricter bail laws that target violent and repeat offenders as well as tougher sentencing laws for serious and violent crimes.
On Wednesday, Feb. 5, Dyas was in Ottawa and spoke in front of Members of Parliament in favour of the bill, as one of a few witnesses invited to present in front of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.
In his speech, Dyas focused on the surge of property crime faced by Kelowna businesses.
“Business owners are dealing with repeated break-ins, vandalism, theft and threats to employees safety and general disorder including windows being smashed,” he said, saying the prevalent crime is connected to the issues of repeat property crime offenders.
“This is common in cities across Canada. It is systemic, it is not acceptable and it requires a significant change in policy and legislation.”
Dyas used a case provided by the Kelowna RCMP that one offender has generated 223 police files from 2021 to 2025. He said these files included 31 failures to comply with conditions and 32 failures to appear in court. The person offended almost monthly with assaults, thefts, threats and public disturbances. Dyas said many of the offences happened shortly after the person’s release.
“Repeat property offenders are brazen knowing there is limited consequence in the Justice System that does not hold them accountable,” Dyas said.
“That is why Bill C-14 matters. I urge the committee and the house to move this bill forward quickly. In particular, the focus on repeat and violent offending and the requirement for courts to consider the number and severity of outstanding charges when making bail decisions it critically important.”
When asked by MP and Justice and Human Rights Committee member Amarjeet Gill if the bill as currently written would keep repeat offenders off the street, Dyas said he would ideally like to see modifications to the bill such as the addition of “repeat property offences” as well as changes the reverse onus section of the bill.
Still, he reaffirmed his support for the bill and the need to get it through.
The committee has recently been discussing Bill C-14 since Jan. 28, when the Liberal government agreed to pause a study on anti-hate Bill C-9 to focus on C-14.
Dyas was joined on the witness panel on Feb. 4 by Clayton Campbell, president of the Toronto Police Association and Judith Veresuk, executive director of the Regina Downtown Business Improvement District.