The Toronto Police Association (TPA) is endorsing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre in the upcoming federal election after asking Poilievre and Liberal Leader Mark Carney to provide their stances on key public safety issues.
After examining their responses, the union said the Tories are the only party taking a firm stance on the issues, but that it would work with whoever is ultimately elected.
The TPA, the largest police union in Canada, had recently sent letters to Poilievre and Carney asking their positions on four “major” public safety issues such as bail reform and rising gun violence.
The police union posted its questions and the responses it received from both leaders to social media on April 22, along with the announcement that Poilievre had won the support of its members.
“As you head to the ballot box next week, consider these responses. It is clear to us there is only one Party that has maintained a strong position on public safety issues and proactively supported police services,” the TPA said.
“While our vote is with Pierre Poilievre … we will work with whoever leads the next government and we will hold them accountable as we continue to advocate for our members and the public.”
Stance on Bail
The union asked both leaders to explain how their respective parties would “stop the revolving door” of the current bail system that it said sees officers arresting the same violent offenders repeatedly.
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Poilievre said his party would put an end to “catch and release” policies and “introduce the toughest, harshest crackdown on crime in Canadian history” if the Tories form the next government.
He vowed to implement a “three strikes” policy that would prohibit individuals convicted of three serious offences from receiving bail, parole, house arrest, or probation, mandating instead a minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum of life imprisonment.
For his part, Carney said his government would implement a “reverse onus” system to make it more difficult for those charged with serious crimes to receive bail.
Carney also pledged to toughen sentencing guidelines for violent car theft and organized crime-related offences as well as a focus on “denunciation and deterrence” for repeat offenders.
Gun Program
The police association also sought the perspectives of both leaders on Canada’s handgun ban and gun buyback program, along with their proposed solutions for the increasing number of illegally smuggled firearms in the country.
Poilievre said a Tory government would end the gun buyback program, saying recent firearms legislation introduced by the Liberals targeted “law-abiding hunters and farmers” but did not address escalating crime involving illegally obtained firearms. He also pledged to allocate money for “front-line” policing and border patrol, invest in new scanning technology and more Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA) officers to stem the flow of illegal guns into Canada at the country’s southern border, and introduce stronger sentences for repeat offenders who use guns to commit crimes.
Carney promised to continue the Liberals’ gun buyback program to get “assault-style firearms” off the streets.
He said his government would crack down on illegal gun trafficking by training 1,000 new CBSA officers and investing in scanners, drones, and K-9 teams. He said a Liberal government would beef up funding for forensic units to trace guns used in crimes and allow officers to intercept guns shipped through the mail.
High-Risk Offenders
The union also questioned the leaders on how they would deal with high-risk offenders.
Poilievre emphasized a victim’s first agenda and promised to repeal the Liberals’ Bill C-83, which increased some rights and protections for prisoners. It’s a law that the Tory leader described as instrumental in allowing serial killer Paul Bernardo and murderer Luka Magnotta to be transferred out of maximum security prisons to medium-security facilities.
Also on the Tory’s agenda is a “no body, no parole law” so offenders cannot be granted parole if they don’t disclose the whereabouts of their victims to police as well as the previously mentioned “three strikes” policy so individuals convicted of three distinct serious crimes would be ineligible for parole.
Carney said the Liberals would focus on strengthening laws for repeat offenders and organized crime offences and “introduce measures to make our bail system more effective.”
He said his party would continue to place an emphasis on the needs of victims. He also pointed to Bill C-83, saying it was a move by the Liberals to strengthen victims’ rights by expanding the victim statement regime. He also cited the Liberal government’s expansion of the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights and increased funding to victim services.
Police Support
Lastly, the union asked both leaders to explain how their potential governments would support both Toronto and Ontario police services with the funding and resources needed to keep communities safe.
Poilievre said his party believes public safety should be the “first priority” of any government, and that means investing in the justice system and police services while tightening laws to keep chronic offenders off the streets. He pledged a Tory government would work with provinces and municipalities to improve the system and ensure law enforcement has the resources needed to “keep Canadians safe.”
He also said the Conservatives would crack down on “the violent riots and unlawful assemblies” that have cropped up since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel, noting that they have “caused police services across the country to bear unacceptable costs and have diverted resources that would be better spent elsewhere.”
Carney said a Liberal government would support police by increasing funding for federal law enforcement to take “national and transnational” crimes off of the plates of municipal and provincial forces.
He also promised to work with cities and provinces to ensure “appropriate planning and coordination” for national events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup and allot funding for the Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment to “better understand and address” the challenges faced by police officers.
