B.C. Premier David Eby says his provincial and territorial counterparts are unanimous in calling on the federal government to implement bail reforms and expand support to fight against guns and gangs in communities.

Eby says the premiers met Friday with the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, where the importance of encouraging the federal government and provincial and municipal leaders to build safe communities was highlighted.

The virtual meeting with police chiefs took place after recent violent attacks in Metro Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Regina and Toronto.

Eby says in a statement that Canadians are concerned about the crime and violence they’re seeing in neighbourhoods and in public places like transit and parks.

“Today’s urgent meeting between the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police and premiers from across Canada underlined the importance of all of us taking action in our own jurisdictions to build safe communities and encouraging the federal government to take action,” Eby said.

“In British Columbia, preliminary data on bail hearings indicates that more than half of the attempts by prosecutors to seek detention are being rejected by the courts. Prosecutors in B.C. only seek detention when they are concerned about the safety of the public, the risk of reoffending and public confidence in the justice system.”

Eby says police and prosecutors in B.C. are doing their part within existing laws to keep people safe, and he’s calling on the federal government to act on a recent promise to amend bail laws to address the national risk to public safety that has become apparent in every province and territory.

“During the pandemic, we demonstrated how we are stronger when the federal government works closely with the provinces. We must do so again,” Eby added.

“The premiers from Canada’s provinces and territories are unanimous in calling on the federal government to implement urgently needed bail reform and expand support to combat guns and gangs in our communities.”