Manitoba MLAs unanimously call for bail reform in wake of crash that killed Portage la Prairie woman

The Manitoba Legislature has unanimously passed a motion to demand bail reform after the death of a young woman who was killed by an alleged drunk driver who had a warrant out for his arrest for violating conditions of his release.

Kellie Verwey was killed in a three-vehicle collision on Highway 26 —  about three kilometres east of Portage la Prairie — on Jan. 16, just before 11 a.m. She would have turned 29 on Monday.

Investigators determined a pickup truck that had veered off the centre line of the highway causing the crash had been stolen. James Lorne Hilton, the 24-year-old driver of the stolen vehicle, is facing multiple charges related to driving while impaired and the dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death.

Manitoba RCMP say they had an arrest warrant for Hilton at the time, for two counts of failing to comply with a release order. 

The motion introduced by the Progressive Conservatives Monday calls for the provincial government to enhance bail enforcement and protect Manitobans from people who violate the conditions of their release.

Politicians in Portage la Prairie had called for bail reform on behalf of the family after the crash, with Portage la Prairie Mayor Sharilyn Knox having sent letters to the premier and federal justice minister calling the collision a "systemic failure" that cost "an innocent young woman her life."

"The legacy of my daughter, as we heard in the House today, has been one of change," Verwey's mother, Meechelle Best, said Monday at the legislature.

"Doing this today on her birthday is absolutely a testament to not only the political will, but her will as a person to make her world better."

'Immediate and decisive action'

The motion was put forward by Progressive Conservative MLA Jeff Bereza, who represents Portage la Prairie, and supported by Lakeside MLA Trevor King.

It initially called for the provincial government to create a bail condition enforcement branch within the Manitoba Sheriff's Department, but was amended based on input from the NDP.

Minister Wiebe said the sheriffs have a specific role around courtroom security and that there was "confusion" as to what they do in the system.

"It is no different than we have conservation officers right now that are on the border," Bereza said. "If we ask the police to do more, then something's going to fall through the cracks."

Bereza said the amended wording calls for "immediate and decisive" action, and that the Opposition will hold the government to that.

"How much more do we give these people a chance?" he said. "It's important for us to take back this province and take back the justice system."

'Certainly, there's more to do': Premier

Premier Wab Kinew said the government must follow federal law and guidelines on bail conditions, but that the NDP government has already taken action, pointing to the province's five-point plan on community safety.

"We got some pushback from some critics, but we moved ahead with it because [it was] the right thing to do," Kinew said Monday. "But certainly, there's more to do. We see reminders of that when we talk to the families of victims, like the family of Kellie Verwey."

Among other things, the five-point plan allocates money for the hiring of Winnipeg police officers tasked with tracking down offenders who violate bail, for data sharing among law enforcement agencies, and for Crown attorneys.

Wiebe said the government is working to implement the changes as soon as possible, and that the National Police Federation endorsed the plan.

"This is about $4 million when it comes to that five-point bail plan, but I will also note that electronic monitoring was over and above that," Wiebe said. About 71 monitors were in use as of March 7, according to the province.

"That was a program that was cut under the previous government. We're proud to be bringing it back."

Wiebe said the non-partisan discussions on the issue highlights that the federal government "has fallen down on their obligation for true bail reform," but that the Opposition is "surprisingly silent" on Ottawa's role on the matter.

"We should be [in] lockstep," he said. "They should join with all of the voices calling for bail reform at the federal level."