chief – Winnipeg Free Press

A new team of Winnipeg police officers whose task will be to monitor suspects on bail — under the provincial government’s plans for reform — will likely start work in the fall, Chief Danny Smyth told the Free Press Thursday.

Smyth said the Winnipeg Police Service has to wait until two recruit classes graduate this year, because it isn’t in a position to reassign officers now.

“We’re probably talking about a minimum of six months out, when we hope to expand our resources,” he said.

On Feb. 29, the NDP government announced $3 million would be set aside in 2024-25 for 12 new officers who will carry out checks and arrest accused people who allegedly breach their court-ordered release conditions.

They will be in addition to Manitoba’s integrated violent offender apprehension unit.

In its 2023 annual report, the police service said people on bail accounted for 20 per cent of violent crimes where a criminal charge was laid.

“If we can shave that number off, I think it will make the community safer,” said Smyth.

Before the new team takes shape, the WPS will steer recruits from the May graduating class toward doubling the number of the downtown foot-patrol unit.

“We’re probably talking about a minimum of six months out, when we hope to expand our resources.”–Winnipeg Police Chief Danny Smyth

Smyth hopes some will be on the street by summer. It could take a year to double the unit, he said.

In July 2023, the then-Progressive Conservative government announced funding for 24 new officers as part of a $10-million downtown safety plan.

Smyth said the WPS also has to offset retirements, which total about 40 to 50 per year.

The bail monitoring team will likely be formed when the second recruit class graduates in the fall, he said.

Some details, including criteria, are still to be worked out.

Smyth provided an operations update to the Winnipeg Police Board ahead of its meeting Friday. His report contains details about an organized theft ring, which he acknowledged could be an example of the type of offenders the team would monitor.

Project Smoke led to the arrests of four men who allegedly stole $1.2 million worth of property, including cigarettes, pickup trucks and clothing, in and around Winnipeg.

Two suspects were on release orders when the group was arrested in December. One of the four was freed on bail and rearrested Jan. 4 for allegedly breaching release conditions. He was granted bail on a new release order Jan. 18.

“I do think this is an example of what we want to be addressing,” Justice Minister Matt Wiebe told the Free Press.

Wiebe and Premier Wab Kinew’s bail reform plan includes new policy directives for provincial Crown attorneys. They were met with skepticism from some prosecutors who previously spoke on condition of anonymity.

Crowns were directed to “take a more stringent approach to bail” and include the impact on victims and community safety in their presentation and thinking of the bail process.

Some Crowns said the policies direct them to do what they are already doing within guidelines set out by the federal Criminal Code.

Wiebe defended the plan, saying the policies are intended to provide clarity, consistency and focus, especially for new Crown attorneys.

“It is part of a larger suite of measures that we’re taking to show to our Crowns how much we appreciate the work they do,” he said.

Additional measures related to bail are still to be announced, Wiebe added.

“This is the first step in the plan,” he said.

Kinew also defended the plan amid criticism from the Tories during question period Thursday. Interim Tory Leader Wayne Ewasko and justice critic Wayne Balcaen accused the NDP of failing to deliver a “real” plan.

“Manitobans know that violent and repeat offenders deserve jail, not bail,” Balcaen told the Free Press afterward, echoing a slogan used by federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre.

In the house, Ewasko appeared to allude to the February killings of a Carman mother, her three children and her 17-year-old cousin.

Ryan Manoakeesick, who is charged with five counts of first-degree murder, had been released on bail in July 2023 in an unrelated case which is centred around a crash that allegedly involved impaired driving. The Tories were in government when his bail was granted.

Under the Charter of Rights, an accused person has the right not to be denied reasonable bail without just cause.

Federal bail reforms targeting repeat violent offenders came into effect in January.

The Criminal Code amendments broaden the reverse onus provision — meaning the suspect has to convince the court they should be released while awaiting trial — to include repeat offenders of intimate-partner violence and crimes involving guns, bear spray and other weapons.

The bill divided opinion and raised concerns among civil rights groups, who said the reforms could disproportionately affect vulnerable and marginalized people.

In a recent report, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association called for an evidence-based overhaul of the bail system.

“In the long term, our view is that transformative change of the bail system in Canada will require reconceptualizing and fully replacing the law on bail — with the Supreme Court of Canada’s recent jurisprudence providing the guiding principles,” the report said.

Wiebe said the Manitoba government, along with other provinces or territories, will push Ottawa for further reform. He wouldn’t say which specific changes Manitoba wants.

Kinew’s mandate letter to Wiebe instructed him to usher in stronger measures on bail reform and implement recommendations made by the National Police Federation.

Bemoaning the current “catch and release” system, the federation last year called on governments to, among other things, commit to evidence-informed bail reforms and improve the monitoring of accused who are out on bail.

Wiebe said the province’s plan includes funding for data and intelligence sharing, new bail workers and expanded social supports for people on bail. It will also hold a “safety summit” in a bid to address the root causes of crimes.

The former Tory government in 2023 announced plans for an electronic monitoring program for high-risk offenders on bail.

— With files from Dean Pritchard

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca

Chris Kitching
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As a general assignment reporter, Chris covers a little bit of everything for the Free Press.

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