Family criticizes inquest end for jail deaths

Ontario is considering amending its Coroners Act to eliminate mandatory inquests into jail deaths, a move criticized by families affected, including Chris Bolt, whose sister Amanda died in custody in 2019. A jury’s inquest into her death resulted in recommendations for police, but Bolt fears future families may lack closure without inquests. The proposed change would shift to coroner-led annual reviews, sparking concerns over depersonalization of cases. Advocates like lawyer Anita Szigeti suggest enhancing current inquest processes instead of replacing them.