Petition launched to amend Criminal Code for ‘stronger public safety’

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The City of Prince George is reaching out to northeastern communities to raise support for a petition for changes to the justice system around repeat offenders. 

During the March 9th meeting, the City of Fort St. John council discussed a letter from the City of Prince George. 

The city’s mayor, Simon Yu, explained the letter was sent asking for support in signing a petition to the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General of Canada. 

“Prince George continues to advocate for stronger public safety measures, an issue currently affecting municipalities across the country,” Yu wrote in the letter. 

“This petition offers all British Columbians a meaningful way to participate and demonstrate to the federal government the importance of a collective voice in working together to find solutions.”

The petition, launched on January 26th, calls on the province to amend the Criminal Code of Canada to “strengthen bail requirements” for “prolific and non-violent offenders,” including provisions for repeat offences. 

“Correctional centres lack capacity and resources to detain offenders awaiting trial and to provide services such as mental health support, rehabilitation and release planning, leading to higher reoffending rates,” the petition reads. 

The petition also asks for more judges, Crown prosecutors and paralegals to be appointed to “end court backlogs,” and for more funding to be provided to Crown council, provincial correctional centres and support services to increase capacity within the court system. 

The petition will remain open for signatures until March 27th at 3:25 p.m. As of March 17th, the petition has received 937 signatures. 

The petition required 500 signatures to be certified by the clerk of petitions before it is presented to the House of Commons in Ottawa. The petition, if eligible, would be presented by Todd Doherty, the member of parliament for Cariboo – Prince George. 

During the March 9th meeting, members of the Fort St. John council expressed interest in the petition, but did not offer any resolutions or votes on it. 

The District of Taylor also received a copy of the letter, which it reviewed during its March 16th council meeting and also did not offer any resolutions or votes. 

To read the full letter, see below.