Crown attorneys in Manitoba are calling for changes to what they call a "frenzied" provincial bail system that often finds prosecutors scrambling to prepare for hearings with only a moment's notice. The Manitoba Association of Crown Attorneys is urging the province issue a directive that requires 24-hour notice before a case where bail may be contested can appear in front of judge so that prosecutors have enough time to vet bail plans and prepare arguments. "One of the main problems is that when you step in the door to court (in the) morning, you have no idea what it is that's going to be proceeding that day. Bail court is essentially the only place where that happens," Crown attorney Brooke Johnson said on Monday. "There are many things that we need to check and ensure before we propose anything to the court, whether we are opposed or whether this bail plan is sufficient to protect the public." Prosecutors currently have to sift through mounds of reports and records to prepare for bail hearings. Sometimes they are given enough notice, but often they are told bail is being requested minutes before a case goes before a judge, the association said. The challenge attorneys then face is having to prepare for a multitude of cases, with a select few ever making it before a judge. Crown attorney Ben Wickstrom said the current system does a disservice to public safety because prosecutors aren't given enough time to properly prepare for these types of hearings. "Ultimately, what happens is the court isn't appraised of all the facts that they ought to be, and the decisions (the court) makes aren't necessarily the best ones that could be made if all information was before them," said Wickstrom, who is also a spokesperson for the association. Releases made without full consideration of all the information available can undermine public confidence in the justice system, Wickstrom added. The Crown attorneys' recommendations comes as the federal government has faced pressure to strengthen bail laws from politicians across the country, including Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. Prime Minister Mark Carney's government has said legislation on bail and sentencing reform is set to be introduced in the House of Commons next month. Wickstrom said the association hopes to add to the conversation by providing information to the public on what Manitoba's current bail system looks like. "We leave it to Parliament to decide on what the law of bail is in Canada, but we think we have something to add in terms of just how the process works." The association is also calling for more Crown attorneys to address lawyers’ overburdened workloads, which has been an ongoing issue, and for Winnipeg police to help prosecutors in vetting proposed bail plans. Justice Minister Matt Wiebe said the NDP government appreciates the recommendations, but did not commit to addressing them. “Our government is committed to strengthening bail, which is why we introduced a five-point bail plan endorsed by the National Police Federation," Wiebe said in statement. Winnipeg police did not immediately respond to a request for comment. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 22, 2025.