When Half an Hour Proves the Justice System Has Failed

Half an hour.

That’s how long it took for Skye Atoa, a high-risk sex offender, to violate his release conditions after walking out of custody in Lethbridge.

On January 13, Atoa was released on bail after being charged for human trafficking of minors and other sex-related offences. He had been arrested for forcibly confining a 14-year-old-girl, a 15-year-old-girl, and a 16-year-old-girl. He sexually assaulted the 14-year-old girl and forced her to consume drugs. He also exposed himself to the other two girls.

When the police arrived on the scene, the youngest girl was in medical distress and had to be taken to

the hospital.

He also faces charges for an unrelated sexual assault dating back to October 2025.

Despite these horrifying crimes, Atoa was released on bail shortly after being arrested. Only half an hour later, he was re-arrested for failing to comply with his bail requirements.

The news has shaken our city. It’s shocking and deplorable.

I’ve heard many concerns about this from people in our community and even across the country. Canadians are clear—they want bail reform.

The bail problem we now face is a direct result of a decade of Liberal catch-and-release policies. The Liberal government’s approach to bail has created a system where the rights of repeat offenders seemingly outweigh the safety of law-abiding Canadians.

Through Bill C-5 and Bill C-75, the Liberals weakened sentencing and made early release the default. Mandatory jail time for serious crimes was repealed, and judges are now required to release accused offenders at the earliest opportunity on the least onerous conditions, often sending repeat violent criminals back onto our streets to reoffend while awaiting trial.

Too many Canadians have been left vulnerable while violent repeat offenders remain free. Every day that passes under these flawed policies is another day that public safety is compromised.

Canadians deserve a justice system that protects law-abiding citizens first, not one that prioritizes procedural restraint at the expense of community safety.

Its instances like this that compel my Conservative colleagues and I to continue fighting for bail reform that ensures repeat or high-risk offenders are not released back into our communities, that victims are protected, and that law-abiding Canadians can feel safe in their homes and on our streets.

Just last week, we had a win in Parliament. Conservative members of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights successfully ended the Liberal filibuster on Bill C-9 that would endanger religious freedoms. Instead of prioritizing bail legislation, the Liberals focused on potentially criminalizing passages from religious texts. Thanks to Conservative initiatives and thousands of Canadians who voiced their concerns, the committee will now study Bill C-14, a bail and sentencing bill. This is a big win! It means we are closer to getting effective bail laws and safer streets.

With the committee now focused on Bill C-14, our goal is clear: this bill must truly fix the Liberals’ weak bail laws. My Conservative colleagues and I will push for amendments grounded in the principle of public safety, end the practice of releasing criminals at the earliest opportunity on the least restrictive conditions, and require detention for serious offences.

Unless these changes are made, serious and dangerous offenders will continue to be released onto our streets to pose a threat to our communities. We must enforce jail, not bail.

The phrase “jail not bail” might sound like a slogan, but it represents a common-sense principle that most Canadians instinctively understand. Those who repeatedly demonstrate they cannot follow the law while free should not enjoy freedom while awaiting trial. This isn’t about vengeance, it’s about protection for the most vulnerable.

Our communities deserve better than what the current system delivers. Victims deserve better than watching their attackers walk free. Police officers deserve better than arresting the same individuals repeatedly, knowing the system will release them within hours.

A man violating his bail requirements within thirty minutes of release is a clear signal that the system is failing. Canadians deserve better and it’s time our laws reflected that reality.

If you believe change is needed, I encourage you to send a brief, one-line email to Canada’s Justice Minister, Sean Fraser. Let him know you support tougher laws and stronger penalties for serious and repeat offenders.

You can email the minister at: mcu@justice.gc.ca

Why Bill C-9 Puts Faith and Free Expression at Risk

Canada has long been a country where people are free to speak, worship, and disagree without fear of criminal punishment. Those freedoms are not accidental. They were deliberately protected by lawmakers who understood that a healthy democracy requires both public safety and liberty. As a Member of Parliament, I take that responsibility seriously, and that is why I am deeply concerned that Bill C-9 risks upsetting that balance in a profound and dangerous way.

For decades, both Conservative and Liberal prime ministers have affirmed freedom of religion as a defining Canadian value. Liberal Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier once declared that “Canada is free and freedom is its nationality.” Conservative Prime Minister John Diefenbaker echoed that principle years later when he proclaimed: “I am Canadian, a free Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship God in my own way… This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.”

That heritage belongs to Canadians of all faiths. For generations, people have practised their religion openly, while faith organizations and community centres have supported the spiritual, physical, and mental well-being of Canadians. Canada is globally known as a refuge for those fleeing religious persecution. Freedom of religion is not a modern invention. It is a foundational pillar of our national identity.

The government insists that Bill C-9, the so-called Combatting Hate Act, is necessary to address rising antisemitism and other hateful acts. They are right about one thing. Canada has seen a deeply troubling increase in antisemitic incidents, alongside vandalism, threats, and harassment targeting Christian communities and other faith groups. Synagogues, churches, schools, community centres, and businesses have been attacked. Families feel unsafe. Students report intimidation on campus. These harms are real and demand serious action.

But after weeks of parliamentary debate, committee testimony, and public scrutiny, it has become clear that Bill C-9 does not strengthen Canada’s response to hate. It weakens it and, in the process, puts religious freedom and free expression at risk.

But Canada already has strong hate crime laws.

The Criminal Code criminalizes threats, harassment, intimidation, mischief against religious property, and hate propaganda. Section 319 makes it an offence to advocate genocide or wilfully promote hatred. Sections 430, 264, and 423 address mischief to religious property, criminal harassment, and intimidation. The Supreme Court of Canada has deliberately set a high bar for what constitutes hatred, defining it as extreme detestation and vilification.

The failure has never been a lack of legal authority. It has been enforcement and political will.

Instead of ensuring existing laws are applied consistently, Bill C-9 removes critical safeguards. It eliminates the long-standing requirement for Attorney General consent before hate speech prosecutions, an important check against frivolous or politically motivated cases. It also lowers the threshold for what qualifies as hatred, creating uncertainty about where lawful expression ends and criminal liability begins.

Most alarming is what followed.

To secure Bill C-9’s passage, the Liberals struck a deal with the Bloc Québécois, agreeing to remove the good faith religious text defence in section 319(3)(b) of the Criminal Code. This narrow but vital protection has existed for decades and ensures Canadians cannot be prosecuted for sincerely expressing religious beliefs or discussing religious texts in good faith.

Its removal has real consequences.

Without this safeguard, passages from the Bible, the Quran, the Torah, and other sacred texts could become grounds for criminal complaints. Clergy could face legal jeopardy for sermons. Parents and educators could hesitate before teaching foundational doctrine. Faith communities would be left guessing whether long held beliefs might now trigger prosecution.

This concern is not hypothetical. Liberal MPs have publicly stated that certain biblical passages should not be protected under the law. That alone should give Canadians pause.

Supporters of Bill C-9 often point to a single case, the failure to charge an imam who publicly called for violence in 2023, as justification for rewriting the Criminal Code. But that case proves the opposite. Existing laws already prohibit calls for violence and genocide. The failure was not the law. It was the refusal to enforce it.

Bill C-9 will not prevent synagogues from being firebombed or homes from being vandalized. Those acts are already crimes. What it will do is chill lawful expression, restrict legitimate religious activity, and invite abuse of the justice system through politically motivated complaints.

Faith leaders across Canada see this clearly. Catholic, Muslim, and Jewish organizations, groups that rarely speak with one voice, have all raised serious concerns. Their message is simple: protecting Canadians from hate must never come at the cost of criminalizing sincere belief.

Conservatives will continue to oppose this reckless and unprecedented attack on fundamental freedoms. Bill C-9 does not make Canadians safer. It undermines faith communities, weakens due process, and erodes the freedoms that define our country.

Canadians deserve a government that enforces the law fairly and defends liberty, not one that trades away constitutional safeguards to pass flawed legislation. If you share these concerns, I encourage you to contact the Minister of Justice, Sean Fraser, at mcu@justice.gc.ca.

Religious freedom in Canada depends on it.

Carrying Forward the Gifts of Giving

Christmas began with the greatest gift ever given—a baby who would save humanity. When He was born, wise men traveled great distances to honour Him with gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Since that day, Christians around the world have fostered a spirit of generosity and kindness to commemorate His birth. The holiday season has come to be known as a “season of giving,” a time when family and friends exchange gifts, whether carefully chosen for someone special or shared in a light-hearted game of gift swapping.

Yet this season calls for generosity that extends beyond our homes and social circles. Across Canada, many rely on food banks and charitable organizations, which in turn rely on the generosity of Canadians to meet the needs of those struggling.

Sadly, in these economically uncertain times, many families are facing real hardship. I hear regularly from parents skipping meals to ensure their children eat, and from elderly or disabled people who are forced to choose between food and medication or rent.

Rising costs mean that putting food on the table is harder than ever. According to Canada’s Food Price Report, a family of four could pay nearly $1,000 more for groceries next year—a stark reminder of the pressures facing our communities.

At times like these, the generosity of our neighbours matters more than ever. Every act of kindness—whether through donations, volunteering, or simply helping someone in need—makes a tangible difference. Lethbridge is fortunate to be home to some of the most active and generous individuals and organizations in the country. In 2022, our city was recognized as one of Canada’s most charitable cities.

Today, people and groups across our community continue to demonstrate what true compassion looks like: stepping up, giving generously, and ensuring no one is left behind. By working together, we can ensure that everyone in Lethbridge feels the warmth and hope of the season.

Local organizations illustrate the profound impact of community generosity. Last month, the Interfaith Food Bank was recognized as one of Canada’s top ten food banks for the value created per dollar spent. With essentials like baby formula having risen 84 per cent since 2017, initiatives such as their baby bundles equip parents with what they need to care for their infants. The Lethbridge Food Bank and the Veterans Association Food Bank continue similar vital work, ensuring no one goes hungry.

The Shop of Wonders offers another inspiring example. Many parents want to give their children a special gift at Christmas, but for some, this is financially out of reach. Shop of Wonders provides a no-cost, dignified shopping experience that allows struggling families to make the holidays memorable for their children. Streets Alive Mission and the Lethbridge Soup Kitchen serve those without homes, ensuring the most vulnerable are cared for.

This list of food banks, care centres, soup kitchens, faith groups, and charitable organizations could go on and on, each one a lifeline for someone in need. But their success depends on the generosity of our community.

This season, I encourage everyone who can, to step forward. Whether it is donating food, offering financial support, volunteering your time, or spreading the word about local initiatives, every act of kindness matters. Christmas began with a gift that changed the world. Today, we have the opportunity to carry forward that spirit by sharing what we can with those who need it most.

Let us continue to be a community that looks out for one another, that steps up, and that shows, especially in challenging times, that the generosity of Lethbridge remains strong.