BC Conservative Attorney General Critic Demands Justice Reform After NDP Public Safety Failures Lead to Kelowna Killing

"The NDP Attorney General must direct the BC Prosecution Service to seek mandatory risk reassessments after every charge and conviction involving intimate partner violence. If this had happened, Bailey’s murder may have been prevented.” ~~ Steve Kooner, Critic for Attorney General & MLA for Richmond-Queensborough

KELOWNA, BC: Conservatives are demanding urgent administration of justice reform following the tragic murder of Kelowna mother Bailey McCourt. Bailey was allegedly killed by her ex-husband just hours after he was released on bail — despite being convicted of four charges related to domestic violence. 

The NDP soft-on-crime experiment has weakened British Columbia’s (BC’s) justice system, repeatedly failed to keep victims safe, and allows repeat offenders to walk free. Conservatives are calling for immediate action from Attorney General Niki Sharma to fix the justice system’s failures.

“To prevent further suffering and deaths, the administration of justice system in BC needs urgent reform,” said MLA Steve Kooner, Critic for Attorney General. “The NDP Attorney General must direct the BC Prosecution Service to seek mandatory risk reassessments after every charge and conviction involving intimate partner violence. If this had happened, Bailey’s murder may have been prevented. 

MLA Kooner continued, “The Attorney General must also ensure that the BC Prosecution Service seeks to enforce K-file flags, so known threats are addressed by the courts. Lastly, the Attorney General must pressure Ottawa to strengthen bail and detention laws for repeat offenders of intimate partner violence. If the federal government refuses to act, the province has a responsibility to step up. The safety of British Columbians must come first.”

Local Conservative MLA Kristina Loewen (Kelowna Centre) said Bailey’s death highlights systemic neglect. She added: “This tragedy was preventable, and despite eight years in power, the NDP have failed to implement long-standing recommendations to protect victims of BC Prosecution Service (IPV).”

“The June 2025 independent review on IPV and sexual violence makes it clear: Intimate partner violence is under-reported, poorly tracked, and met with institutional inertia. There’s no leadership, no urgency, and no accountability — and that, combined with the government’s failure to reform the justice system, is leading to tragic, fatal outcomes like Bailey’s,” warned Loewen.

“The NDP soft-on-crime experiment has failed,” MLA Kooner concluded. “Conservatives are ready to deliver the justice reforms necessary to keep repeat offenders in jail, protect victims of abuse, and keep British Columbians safe.”