Ontario cash bail system put on hold after injunction

Ontario’s new cash bail system has been temporarily suspended after an Ontario Superior Court judge granted an injunction while a constitutional challenge is heard. The Canadian Civil Liberties Association and the Criminal Lawyers’ Association argue that the rule change conflicts with the Criminal Code and could make bail harder to obtain, especially for people who may struggle to provide a cash deposit or find a surety. The province says the change is only administrative and does not alter release conditions. In his ruling, Justice William Chalmers said the challengers had shown there could be irreparable harm if the rules stayed in place before the court decides the case.