Lametti says Tories exploiting tragedies ‘to score political points’ on bail reform

OTTAWA — Canada’s justice minister is accusing Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives of using tragedies such as the killing of a young Ontario Provincial Police officer “to try to score political points.”

Lametti made the remark today in the House of Commons while debating a motion put forward by the Conservatives, which calls on members of Parliament to push Ottawa to enact various bail reforms.

Raquel Dancho, the party’s public safety critic, says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government has failed to act in the face of violence committed by offenders who have been released on bail. 

She pointed to the fact that one of the two people charged with first-degree murder in the late December killing of OPP Const. Greg Pierzchala had initially been denied bail on a separate assault and weapons charge, but was released and later sought for arrest after he failed to show up for a court hearing.