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The Ontario government says it is taking new steps to protect communities by introducing the Keeping Criminals Behind Bars Act, 2025, a sweeping public safety bill aimed at holding offenders accountable, tightening bail rules, and cracking down on dangerous driving.
The legislation was introduced last week on Tuesday, November 25th, and includes measures the province says are designed to support victims of crime and reduce repeat offences.
The proposed legislation would require accused persons or their sureties to provide a full cash security deposit when ordered by the court – an effort to keep violent, repeat offenders from being released on bail. The bill also proposes enhanced digital monitoring tools and continued investment in adult correctional institutions, including reopening facilities to increase available capacity.
“For too long, violent repeat offenders have cycled through the justice system,” says Solicitor General Michael Kerzner, adding that the bill prioritizes public safety.
A second focus of the legislation is dangerous driving, responding in part to the “Andrew’s Law” petition launched after the death of Andrew Cristillo, who was killed by a driver previously charged with dangerous driving. New measures would allow police to issue immediate 90-day licence suspensions and seven-day vehicle impoundments if they believe a driver was operating dangerously. The province is also exploring whether impaired drivers who kill a parent or guardian should be required to pay ongoing child support, and reviewing penalties for careless driving, driving while suspended, and commercial distracted driving.
Other proposals connected to the bill include exploring whether certain information from the Ontario Sex Offender and Trafficker Registry should be made publicly available, as well as new measures targeting illegal drug production and use, particularly on public transit. The government is also reviewing protections for critical infrastructure such as hospitals, transit hubs, and places of worship to ensure they remain accessible and free from harassment or obstruction.
The legislation also includes supports for public safety personnel, such as expanding access to the Ontario Immediate Family Wellness Program and embedding the Constable Joe MacDonald Public Safety Officers’ Survivors Scholarship Fund into law. In addition, the province plans to strengthen animal protection rules by restricting invasive medical research on dogs and cats and increasing penalties for harming animals that work with peace officers.
The government says the proposals build on previous justice-sector reforms introduced in 2024 and 2025.
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