Ontario Premier Doug Ford has recently made headlines for his strong stance against child molesters, referring to them as "diddlers" during a news conference. This follows a series of discussions among provincial leaders regarding the legal treatment of individuals convicted of child pornography offenses. Earlier this month, Ford, alongside Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, urged the federal government to invoke the notwithstanding clause to maintain a one-year mandatory minimum sentence for accessing or possessing child pornography. This request came after the Supreme Court narrowly struck down the previous law. The federal government has indicated it can address the court's concerns without resorting to the notwithstanding clause.

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew has also expressed his views, stating he would like to see serious offenders imprisoned for life. In a recent development, Ford proposed making Ontario's sexual offender registry partially public, allowing residents to know the locations of registered offenders. He indicated that he would consider invoking Section 33 of the Charter to protect this law from potential legal challenges.

These discussions are part of a broader movement among several provinces calling for reforms in sentencing, bail, and parole. Many Canadians have become increasingly aware that individuals accused or convicted of violent crimes often receive structured release, even after previous offenses. This has led to a growing sentiment that repeat offenders should no longer be given second chances. Poilievre has supported a proposed "three-strikes law," which would impose a 10-year sentence and a "dangerous offender" designation after a third serious offense. Critics have labeled this approach as "American-style" justice, but it has gained significant public support. A recent Abacus Data poll revealed that 80 percent of Canadians believe bail is too easily granted and that repeat offenders should have to demonstrate their worthiness for release.

A new report from Benjamin Roebuck, the federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime, highlights the challenges faced by sexual assault victims in the judicial system. The report emphasizes the need to balance the rights of the accused with the unique difficulties victims encounter when coming forward. A concerning statistic from the report indicates that many sexual assault cases do not reach trial or collapse during proceedings due to delays in the court system. Since the Supreme Court's 2016 decision in R v. Jordan, which established an 18-month timeline for provincial cases, hundreds of sexual assault cases have been stayed due to the inability to conduct timely trials.

In the 2022-23 period, nearly one in three sexual assault cases in adult courts exceeded the Jordan limit, with 47.3 percent of those cases being stayed or withdrawn. This translates to approximately 14.4 percent of all sexual assault cases in adult courts being dismissed, equating to around 500 cases. In 2024, three sexual assault cases in northern Manitoba were abandoned due to these delays, with one case taking two years for police to provide necessary witness statements, a situation described by Judge Catherine Hembroff as "entirely inexcusable."