Former Alberta Minister of Justice and Solicitor General Jonathan Denis, QC issued the following statement in support of Bill S-217, known as Wynn’s Law:
“As Alberta’s Minister of Justice and Attorney Solicitor in January 2015, I was directly involved in overseeing the response to the killing of RCMP Constable David Wynn. I watched the video of Constable Wynn being shot and killed – an image that haunts me to this day.
Following the death of Constable Wynn, I ordered a review of Alberta’s bail process. That review was completed and a report was issued last year with recommendations for provincial action. I believe that Wynn’s Law compliments the recommendations in the Alberta bail review report by closing a loophole in the federal Criminal Code; an action that may very well have saved the life of Constable David Wynn.
The disclosure of the criminal history of an accused seeking bail is almost always done – and should always be done. Unfortunately, in the case of Constable Wynn’s killer it wasn’t, with fatal consequences. Disclosing the criminal history of bail applicants is a matter of common-sense and provides the court with necessary information to make a decision on whether or not to grant bail. This is not a partisan issue, but an issue of public safety. I urge the Liberal government to reverse their position and pass Wynn’s Law so that this fatal loophole in the Criminal Code can finally be closed.”
Bill S-217, introduced by Ontario Senator Bob Runciman, and sponsored in the House of Commons by MP Michael Cooper (St. Albert-Edmonton) passed in the Senate last fall by a wide margin. It is now at second reading stage in the House of Commons.
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For more information, please contact:
Dane Lloyd
Parliamentary Assistant
Office of Michael Cooper, M.P.
613-996-4723
michael.cooper@parl.gc.ca
