Calls for bail reform are growing louder in the GTA, as police leaders warn that gaps in Canada’s justice system are allowing repeat violent offenders to continue terrorizing communities in Mississauga, Brampton and across Ontario.
On Tuesday, Peel Regional Police hosted a press conference at the Hilton Hotel in north Mississauga as part of the city’s first-ever Victims and Survivors Symposium. Chief Nishan Duraiappah, joined by police chiefs from Durham, York and Halton, stressed that the current bail system enables violent criminals to reoffend, leaving families and businesses vulnerable.
“This is about more than a conversation — it’s a commitment to change,” police said in a statement, highlighting that the symposium was dedicated to “listening, collaborating and advocating for meaningful reform.”
The event also heard from Peel Police Service Board chair Nando Iannicca and advocates for survivors of intimate partner abuse, who spoke about the need for long-term, survivor-centered solutions. The symposium brought together victims, survivors, community partners, advocates and law enforcement to address how systemic gaps in bail oversight contribute to ongoing violence.
The push for reform comes just months after Peel police arrested a dozen suspects linked to 17 violent incidents, including brutal home invasions and jewelry store robberies across the GTA. Deputy Mayor Matt Mahoney described those crimes as attacks that struck “in the most personal and terrifying way,” leaving Mississauga families shaken.
Police say the bail system continues to undermine public safety, and the issue is not just regional but national — demanding urgent government action.