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Tough-on-crime Reforms Column Misses Mark

Cape Breton Post: Oct 27, 2025

Brian Lilley’s above column on bail reform includes claims that are easily refuted by referencing Statistics Canada which states that crime severity in Canada showed a 4.1 per cent drop in 2024 while the “police-reported crime rate per 100,000 population-Canada …” dropped 3.6 percent.

Exaggerating the prevalence of violent crime distracts authorities from addressing crime’s underlying causes, preferably without resort to emotion.

Beyond this is the question of Lilley’s total avoidance of elite economic crimes and criminal tax evasion that deprives the public purse of vital revenue. Maybe Lilley assumes that wealthy criminals will self-regulate and eventually admit their offenses to a merciful court?

Although Canada’s criminal justice and bail systems needs adjustment, why does Postmedia feature Brian Lilley’s opinion when Canada boasts dozens of better-qualified academics and criminologists?

Perhaps Lilley’s journalism diploma and self-proclaimed “school of life” credentials support his broad expertise in all matters of public import. Unfortunately for healthy public discourse, it seems that Lilley enjoys a large and sympathetic audience.