Letter of Support to the Premier for Mayor Frank Campion's urgent call for reform

RE: Urgent Support for Mayor Campion and the City of Welland’s Call for Reform

Dear Premier Ford,

The horrific crime that recently took place in Welland has shaken residents across Niagara. As Mayor Frank Campion has made clear, the failings of our current system are leaving communities exposed to violent repeat offenders who face little real consequence for their actions. The result is devastating to the community, and the public is losing confidence in the institutions charged with keeping them safe.

Ontario cannot afford to let this continue. We need action now, and I join Mayor Campion in calling for reforms that will:

• Strengthen bail and sentencing provisions for violent repeat offenders;
• Reform or eliminate parole for violent sexual crimes so that a criminal’s actions are met with real accountability;
• Ensure communities are properly protected by the tools that already exist.

The people of Welland, St. Catharines, and communities across Ontario demand leadership. This is not a matter of political debate or partisan ideology, it is about protecting lives and restoring confidence in justice. The longer reform is delayed, the more our citizens pay the price.

I stand firmly beside Mayor Campion in urging your government to make these changes without hesitation. Public safety must come first, and Ontarians deserve to know that their leaders will act decisively to ensure their safety and protection.

Mat Siscoe
Mayor of St. Catharines