(Ottawa) Federal statistics show that most of the 700 offenders deemed most dangerous in Canada are incarcerated in medium and minimum security prisons.
The data was tabled in Parliament in response to a written question from British Columbia Conservative MP Frank Caputo.
His question came after media reports of the transfer of notorious serial killer and rapist Paul Bernardo to a medium security prison in Quebec from the maximum security facility in Millhaven, Ontario.
The Correctional Service of Canada reviewed its decision following public backlash and concluded that authorities followed policy appropriately in moving Bernardo, who is serving an indeterminate life sentence and been declared a dangerous offender.
Corrections Commissioner Anne Kelly said Bernardo did not pose a risk to public safety and that conditions of detention in medium security were similar – and no more comfortable – to those in maximum security.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre nevertheless called on the Liberal government to intervene and ensure that Bernardo and other dangerous offenders are forced to serve their entire sentence in a maximum security institution.