(Toronto) Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling for the resignation, or firing, of the commissioner of the Correctional Service of Canada, over the decision to transfer Ontario killer Paul Bernardo to a medium-security prison.
The Correctional Service said in a statement Monday that it wants to maintain the confidence of the Canadian public in its decisions, and that for this reason Commissioner Anne Kelly has ordered a new review of the transfer.
The Correctional Service wants to ensure that Bernardo has been placed “at the correct level of security” based on the available evidence, and that the concerns of victims have been “adequately taken into account” before this transfer.
But Premier Ford told the Legislature on Tuesday that his message to Mr.me Kelly is that no Canadian has confidence in her decisions and that she should resign – or be fired by Ottawa.
PHOTO NATHAN DENETTE, THE CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES
Doug Ford
Bernardo is serving a life sentence for the kidnapping, torture and murder of 15-year-old Kristen French and 14-year-old Leslie Mahaffy in the early 1990s in Ontario. He was also convicted of manslaughter in the death of 15-year-old Tammy Homolka, the sister of his then-wife, Karla Homolka.
Homolka pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of homicide for the crimes committed against Kristen French and Leslie Mahaffy, and she was granted parole in 2005 after 12 years in prison.
Bernardo also admitted to sexually assaulting 14 other women. He was previously imprisoned at the maximum security institution of Millhaven, near Kingston, Ontario, but he has just been transferred to the medium security institution of La Macaza, in the Laurentians.
Premier Ford believes Bernardo should languish in a maximum-security prison for the rest of his life. “I apologize for my language, but he’s a bastard,” he told the Legislative Assembly. This child of p… must be guarded 23 hours a day in maximum security. »
In a statement released Tuesday evening, Correctional Service of Canada spokesperson Kevin Antonucci said Mr.me Kelly “has dedicated her career to corrections and has worked tirelessly to keep our communities safe.”
“She has made significant progress on her term commitments and remains committed to continuing this essential work. »
He added that Bernardo’s transfer poses no risk to public safety.
A ministerial directive?
In Ottawa, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should ensure that all serial killers serve their full sentences in a maximum security prison.
Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said Monday he told Commissioner Kelly how shocked Canadians were by the decision. But the minister clarified that he could not overturn the decision himself, because the Correctional Service operates as an independent institution.
Mr. Poilievre rejected this explanation on Tuesday and asked Justin Trudeau to intervene. “I’m asking the Prime Minister to direct his Minister of Public Safety to affirm that all serial killers should serve their full sentences in maximum security prisons,” Poilievre told reporters Tuesday. It is obvious and the Prime Minister can do it. He must stop throwing the ball back to others. »
In Mr. Poilievre’s office, it is suggested that such a power exists, in the form of a ministerial directive, which is generally used to deal with general political matters.
Minister Mendicino said on Tuesday that he expected the review of Bernardo’s transfer to take only a few weeks “at most”, and he suggested that any discussion of policy changes will have to wait for the conclusion of this. review.
“Listen: if there are problems with regard to the policies, with regard to the principles, even with regard to the law, I will leave all these options on the table, he assured. We will see where we are in a few weeks and after that, if we need to review the law or any of its policies or guidelines, we will. »
The Correctional Service explained Monday that decisions concerning the security classification of offenders must respect the law, which requires in particular that they be reviewed every two years.
The agency also recalled that information on offenders is confidential and that security classification and possible transfers are determined in particular according to risks to public safety and escape, or psychological assessments.
The reason Bernardo was transferred to La Macaza has not been disclosed, but this medium-security facility is known to hold violent sex offenders, and specializes in treating those convicted of sex crimes.
Minister Mendicino indicated on Tuesday that the government had access to the reasons for the transfer, but he also recalled that because of confidentiality provisions, it is up to the Correctional Service to decide whether it can make these reasons public. .
“I believe that since this matter is now public, Canadians have a right to an explanation,” however admitted the Minister of Public Safety.