'A good start': Alberta applauds bail system changes targeting repeat and violent offenders
Samuel Haile's family knows bail reform can't bring him back, but they hope his death does bring some change.
The 24-year-old was gunned down on Christmas Day in Forest Lawn.
Police believe the offender was out on bail at the time, fresh off armed robbery charges.
To make matters worse, the accused is walking free again after having skipped a Moose Jaw court date earlier this month.
"The whole family is shocked," Haile's aunt Selemawit Ghide told CTV News through a translator. "He was out on bail, and now he is free. So if they arrest him, we might get a little relief."
Canada-wide warrants have been issued for Yosief Hagos, who was last seen in Red Deer.
It's unknown if the incident that resulted in Haile’s death was targeted.
But while a fatal shooting allegedly involving a person on the run sounds like a movie, it's not all that unique.
The province says numbers from last year show 28 per cent of Albertans out on bail are taken back into custody for violating their conditions or incurring new charges.
That's the impetus behind a new push to change parts of Canada's legal system.
PROVINCIAL LOBBYING
Justice Minister Tyler Shandro was Alberta's representative in Ottawa this week as every province and territory pushes the federal government to "fix" its bail system.
After an emergency meeting on Friday, Shandro told CTV News the conversations were positive.
"It was a good start," he said. "I'm pleased to see the commitment today that the federal government is willing to consider amendments to the Criminal Code when it comes to these violent offenders."
Federal Justice Minister David Lametti said the government will make it more difficult for some offenders to get out of jail while they wait for their trial. The reform will focus on those who are repeat offenders and those facing weapons charges.
The legislation will likely be tabled in the upcoming season.
"Everyone should be presumed innocent until proven guilty, but there are some repeat offenders where we just need pre-trial custody," Shandro said. "Obviously, we in Alberta were asking for more.
"But Minister Lametti has asked me to submit further changes that we might be able to have them consider and I'm going to take him up on that."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.