Liberals shift to tougher crime policy after years of reform

The federal Liberal government has moved toward a tougher approach on crime, reversing parts of its earlier emphasis on rehabilitation and bail reform. Over the past year, Ottawa has restored some mandatory minimum sentences, tightened bail rules, and introduced a series of Criminal Code changes aimed at violent crime, hate crimes, sexual exploitation, retail theft, and threats against transit workers. The shift comes as crime remains a major political issue in parts of the country, especially suburban ridings around Toronto and other large cities. Prime Minister Mark Carney and Justice Minister Sean Fraser have argued that the government is giving police and courts stronger tools to keep dangerous offenders off the streets, while the Conservatives say the changes do not go far enough. The article traces this policy turn back to the Trudeau era, when the Liberals emphasized restraint, reduced some mandatory sentences, and expanded judicial discretion. That approach was meant to address inequality and overrepresentation in the justice system, but critics linked it to a postpandemic rise in public concern about safety. Recent data show mixed trends, with some crime indicators falling in major cities even as many residents still say they feel unsafe.