Canada proposes new bail bill despite lack of supporting data, minister says

FILE PHOTO: Canada's Minister of Justice and Attorney General David Lametti speaks in parliament during Question Period in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, March 28, 2023. REUTERS/Patrick Doyle

TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada's government has introduced a bill seeking to make it harder for some repeat offenders of violent crimes to get bail even as the federal justice minister says it lacks data to show violent crimes committed by people on bail are on the rise, while pre-trial detentions make up a growing share of adults in provincial and territorial jails.

When asked if the measure is about perception or reality, Justice Minister David Lametti told Reuters in an interview that pursuing this legislation is "probably a mixture of both." He said there are no statistics available showing more people are committing violent offences while on bail.