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CBC: Pre-Trial Custody and Bail Reform in Manitoba

Eleanor Coopsammy — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 20:56:02 +0000

Dr. Allison Fenske, Director of the University of Manitoba Community Law Centre, speaks with host Marcy Markusa about the conditions and realities of pre-trial custody and how proposed bail reforms could impact education, housing, and employment for the accused.

To listen to the interview, please visit CBC.

CBC: Criticism of bail process often comes from ‘uninformed opinion,’ Winnipeg judge says

Eleanor Coopsammy — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 04:17:41 +0000

A Manitoba judge is raising concerns that recent discussions around bail reform are whittling away at the presumption of innocence in Canada’s justice system — taking a rare step one legal expert said could help improve public understanding of the issue. One legal expert said while uncommon, he sees no issue with a judge making comments like Harvey’s — in fact, those kinds of comments can help better inform public debate on the issue of bail reform, said Brandon Trask, associate professor in the University of Manitoba’s law faculty.

To read the article, please visit CBC News.

Global News: Legal experts react to bail reform bill

Eleanor Coopsammy — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 22:22:38 +0000

The federal Liberals tabled their highly anticipated bail and sentencing reform legislation Thursday. Brandon Trask, Associate Professor of Law at the University of Manitoba provides perspective on the changes.

To watch the story please visit, Global News.

CTV News: Winnipeg mayor expresses support for federal bail reform

Eleanor Coopsammy — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 23:28:33 +0000

Winnipeg’s mayor is praising Prime Minister Mark Carney’s announced plans for bail reform in Canada. Brandon Trask, an Associate Professor of Law at the University of Manitoba said the reverse onus proposal for bail could lead to potential violations of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Winnipeg Free Press: Bluster on bail boiling over, but jury is out

Eleanor Coopsammy — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 21:04:17 +0000

It was a rare glimpse into how Manitoba’s justice system tackles the tricky — and, increasingly political — issue of bail. Publication bans cover the majority of contested bail hearings, preventing the public from knowing what defence lawyers and prosecutors argued. But on Thursday, the usual ban wasn’t in place in a Grand Rapids man’s aggravated assault case, allowing the Free Press the opportunity to pull back the veil on bail court. Brandon Trask, an associate law professor at the University of Manitoba and a former Crown prosecutor in the Maritimes, was not surprised by Thursday’s outcomes.“I think the public is being left with an inaccurate impression right now, if you were to only listen to much of the talk politically,” Trask said.

To read the full article, head to Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press: ‘No big reinvention of the wheel’: impact of NDP bail plan debated

Fiona Odlum — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 20:26:13 +0000

University of Manitoba law assistant professor Brandon Trask said the directive is essentially a restatement of what the Criminal Code already sets out.

“That in addition to considering the importance of ensuring that an accused individual shows up to court, a prosecutor must consider protection of the public and victims, as well as public confidence in the administration of justice, in arriving at decisions about how to approach bail from the Crown’s perspective in a given case,” Trask explained Thursday.