Vernon call on Feds to reform bail

Oct 14, 2025 | 4:31 PM

The City of Vernon is advancing its call for bail reform.

The Mayors of Vernon, Kelowna, West Kelowna and Penticton issued a joint call to have the court system reviewed in mid-September.

The City of Vernon is now advancing that call, and at the regular meeting Tuesday, City Council voted in favour of forwarding that letter to Sean Fraser, Minister of Justice and the Attorney General for Canada.

“We’re trying to encourage the federal minister to do some significant bail reform,” Mayor Victor Cumming told Vernon Matters following the council meeting on October 14.

“The main concern for us is repeat offenders who make life for many people just really uncomfortable and run up our crime stats and constantly get released quickly. It’s just a revolving door that we would like to have not operate as a revolving door.”

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The letter was presented to provincial ministers at the Union of B.C. Municipalities’ convention in October.

“The City of Kelowna led that, because we wanted a single spokesperson, and now there are other councils that are speaking up on the same issue,” Cumming said, adding the presentation was well received by the province.

“I think there’s recognition that this is a concern, and there’s desire from our provincial ministers with that responsibility. They’re already in conversation with the federal ministries, so we’re hoping there will be some legislation this fall in terms of bail reform at the federal level.”

by Liam Verster

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