British Columbia Premier David Eby is determined to keep advocating for justice for the family of Bailey McCourt, a Kelowna woman tragically murdered by her ex-husband shortly after being released on bail in July. Eby, along with federal Justice Minister Sean Fraser, highlighted the importance of ongoing efforts to seek justice for the McCourt family during a recent press conference.
Eby emphasized that while Canada’s new bail reform legislation encompasses some of the concerns raised by the McCourt case, there are still aspects that fall short of addressing all the family’s and his own desires. Despite this, Eby affirmed the province’s commitment to continue supporting McCourt’s family and expressed his intention to meet with them to discuss further steps on Monday.
During the joint news conference, Eby praised the recent federal legislation for making strides in addressing key issues highlighted by the McCourt tragedy. The legislation, which includes tougher sentences for various crimes and shifts the burden of proof for bail from the prosecution to the accused through the principle of reverse onus, marks a significant step towards enhancing justice and accountability in such cases.
Looking ahead, Fraser confirmed that the government is actively engaging with feedback from families affected by crime and is set to introduce additional legislation focusing on intimate-partner violence by the year’s end. The collaborative efforts between government officials demonstrate a shared commitment to pursuing justice and supporting victims of crime.