Effective August 17, 2026, the Ontario government is bringing into force new
measures to strengthen the province’s bail system and protect Ontario communities. As
part of the government’s comprehensive bail strategy and ongoing work to make bail more
real and consequential for people accused of serious crimes, these new measures will
improve bail compliance, keep violent, repeat offenders behind bars and make it easier for
the province to collect forfeited bail payments when bail conditions are violated.
“For too long, gaps in the bail system have allowed violent and repeat offenders back into
our communities,” said Attorney General Doug Downey. “Enough is enough. People
deserve to feel safe in their neighbourhoods and confident that those who pose a serious
risk will not be released only to reoffend. That’s why our government is taking bold, decisive
action to deliver on our promise and fix the broken bail system, keep dangerous, repeat
offenders off our streets, and put public safety first.”
The new bail measures being implemented will:
• Require a cash security deposit in the full amount pledged to be paid once an
accused person is released from custody, with payment due within two business
days of release. This strengthens accountability by ensuring financial consequences
are immediate when the court orders forfeiture of bail money as a penalty for a
breach of bail conditions or for the failure of an accused person fails to attend court,
making it easier for the province to recover bail debts.
• Require sureties to provide current contact and identification information. Keeping
this information up to date will allow the province to collect forfeited bail money more
effectively if no security deposit is on file. Failing to comply with these requirements
may result in a provincial offence charge.
• Enhance collection tools for bail debts such as wage and bank account garnishment,
property liens, and the seizure and sale of property. These stronger enforcement
tools help ensure that court-ordered bail obligations are more easily enforceable and
that those who fail to comply with bail conditions face meaningful consequences.
“Bail conditions are not suggestions, they are court orders, and there must be real
consequences when they are broken,” said Solicitor General Michael Kerzner. “Our
government is strengthening enforcement to hold offenders accountable, give police and
prosecutors stronger tools to protect our communities, and help keep violent and repeat
offenders behind bars where they belong.”
Ontario is also working to strengthen digital tools to track repeat offenders and those who
fail to comply with bail conditions. This includes the creation of a surety database to help
streamline and enhance surety checks.
Taken together, these measures will make Ontario’s bail system more accountable by
strengthening compliance with court-ordered release conditions and will reinforce Ontario’s
commitment to protecting communities, ensuring there are real consequences for breaches
of court-ordered release conditions.
