Kelowna victim’s family says bail reform does little to combat intimate partner violence

The family of a slain Kelowna , B.C., woman is expressing disappointment in the wake of changes announced to Canada’s bail system.

“It absolutely does not go far enough in terms of intimate partner violence,” said Debbie Henderson, Bailey’s aunt and the family’s spokesperson. “We’re pretty disappointed.”

Bailey McCourt, a mother of two, was beaten to death in July.

Her ex-husband, James Plover, was charged with second-degree murder.

Plover was convicted of a domestic violence charge hours before but was released.

On Thursday, Canada’s justice minister announced tougher bail and sentencing laws are on the way.

“We are going to change the criminal law to ensure the bail system isn’t a get-out-of-jail-free card,” Sean Fraser said.

One of the proposed changes involves “reverse onus” b