Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory continued to train his sights Thursday on Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty, accusing his main rival of allowing dangerous criminals to walk the streets.
A Conservative government would crack down on plea bargains and those who violate their terms of release from custody, whether it be bail, parole or probation, Tory said.
Ontario Progressive Conservative leader John Tory, right, leaves a campaign stop with his wife, Barbara Hackett, Friday.
(J.P. Moczulski/Canadian Press)
It would also go after "every single penny" of bail every time it's breached and provide thousands of dollars in cash rewards for tips about major unsolved crimes, he said.
Tory also pledged to gather statistics on justice issues such as the number of crimes committed by individuals on bail, plea bargains, and wait times for trials, and make them available to the public.
He dismissed suggestions that such measures could be seen as putting undue political pressure on the courts.
"I think you can never have too much transparency," he said during a campaign event outside a minimum-security prison in Toronto.
"All I'm saying is … if we can collect statistics on fishing licences, if we know how many eggs were laid by chickens in Ontario last year — which we do — then isn't it proper that we know how many people violated their bail?"
Too many people are being killed because the current system doesn't keep dangerous criminals who are at risk of re-offending off the streets, Tory said, citing the fatal shooting of Ronnell Williams, who was slain at a Brampton birthday party earlier this month.
A Conservative government wouldn't allow court-order violations like bail breaches to be plea-bargained away in cases that involve guns, sexual assault or violence, he said.
And it would provide automatic inquests in cases when someone released from custody causes a death, "so that mistake doesn't happen again."
It would also introduce a program that would provide up to $50,000 to police agencies to reward people for tips about eligible unsolved cases involving murder, sexual assaults and missing persons, Tory said.
Anyone coming forward with information would be expected to provide a name and contact information, and would be called on to testify in court.
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Ontario Votes 2007 »
- McGuinty wins massive majority, Tory loses seat
- Dalton McGuinty won a second majority government for the Liberals in Ontario on Wednesday night, a triumph for a party that earlier expressed fears of a drop to minority status.
- Ontario rejects electoral reform in referendum
- Ontario voters have rejected a proposed electoral reform that would have seen some provincial legislators chosen based on a party's share of the popular vote, results showed Thursday.
- Ontario voter turnout a record low
- The percentage of eligible voters casting ballots in Wednesday's Ontario election hit an all-time low despite changes introduced in an effort to boost turnout.
- Ont. Green party scores 8 per cent of vote
- No Green party candidates made it to the Ontario legislature in Wednesday's election, but that defeat was sweetened by a swell in their share of the popular vote, which more than doubled.
- McGuinty only leader not facing leadership questions
- Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty won re-election in Ottawa South and NDP Leader Howard Hampton again won his northern Ontario riding of Kenora-Rainy River. PC Leader John Tory was defeated.
District Profiles
More Ontario Votes Headlines »
- McGuinty wins massive majority, Tory loses seat
- Dalton McGuinty won a second majority government for the Liberals in Ontario on Wednesday night, a triumph for a party that earlier expressed fears of a drop to minority status.
- Ontario rejects electoral reform in referendum
- Ontario voters have rejected a proposed electoral reform that would have seen some provincial legislators chosen based on a party's share of the popular vote, results showed Thursday.
- Ontario voter turnout a record low
- The percentage of eligible voters casting ballots in Wednesday's Ontario election hit an all-time low despite changes introduced in an effort to boost turnout.
- Ont. Green party scores 8 per cent of vote
- No Green party candidates made it to the Ontario legislature in Wednesday's election, but that defeat was sweetened by a swell in their share of the popular vote, which more than doubled.
- McGuinty only leader not facing leadership questions
- Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty won re-election in Ottawa South and NDP Leader Howard Hampton again won his northern Ontario riding of Kenora-Rainy River. PC Leader John Tory was defeated.
