Premier Doug Ford says he is “extremely frustrated” that a bill backed by every premier in the country remains stalled in the Senate more than a year after the push for changes began.

Speaking to reporters, Ford said that the slow progress of Bill C-14, a federal legislation aimed at tightening bail rules for repeat and violent offenders, is evidence that the system is not moving quickly enough to address public safety concerns.

“I’m extremely frustrated,” Ford said. “This has been over a year now. We sat around the table with all the premiers saying that we have to change bail reform… all 13 of us signed off with the prime minister sitting there. They’re dragging their feet.”

The bill, which passed the House of Commons in February with support from both Liberals and Conservatives, would expand so-called reverse-onus provisions, requiring certain accused individuals to justify why they should be released on bail rather than placing that burden on prosecutors. The proposed changes target offences such as violent auto theft, home invasions, human trafficking and other serious crimes.

Ford linked the delay directly to rising concerns about crime, arguing communities are losing confidence in the justice system.

“People are fed up with the home invasions, the cars being stolen… they’re fed up with not feeling safe when they go outside,” he said.

His comments come as frustration mounts across multiple levels of government over the Senate’s handling of the legislation.

READ MORE: Liberals question Senate’s handling of bail reform bill

Bill C-14 has been before a Senate committee for weeks and is now unlikely to return to the chamber until May 26, after senators rejected efforts to accelerate clause-by-clause review. That timeline raises the possibility the bill may not receive final approval until late May or even June, as Parliament heads toward its summer recess.

An Ontario government source said that Premier Ford has spent years calling for tighter bail rules, but lacks the jurisdiction to act unilaterally. Criminal law, including bail provisions, falls under federal authority.

All 13 premiers had previously written to then-prime minister Justin Trudeau calling for reforms, citing concerns about repeat offenders being released and reoffending while awaiting trial.

But the bill has also faced scrutiny in the Senate, where some legal experts and civil liberties advocates argue it could have significant implications for Charter rights, particularly protections against unreasonable denial of bail.

While the premier also used his remarks to praise Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow for increasing police resources, noting the addition of 600 hundred officers, he made clear that, in his view, municipal and provincial efforts can only go so far without federal action.

With only a handful of sitting weeks left before Parliament rises, the fate of Bill C-14 may hinge on whether the Senate accelerates its work.