Paul Bernard | A justified transfer, says the Correctional Service of Canada

(OTTAWA) The decision to transfer serial killer and rapist Paul Bernardo from a maximum-security penitentiary to a medium-security facility was justified and in accordance with all laws, Correctional Service Canada (CSC) Commissioner Anne Kelly said Thursday.

This observation stems from the examination of the reassessment of the security classification which was carried out in the wake of the announcement of the transfer of this notorious criminal to the establishment of La Macaza, in the Laurentians, which had caused a shock wave across the country.

At a press conference in Ottawa, the commissioner explained that the results of the tests of “this inmate” – she named Paul Bernardo only once before qualifying him as such, out of respect for the relatives of his victims – corresponded to those of inmates incarcerated in medium security penitentiaries.

“One of the guiding principles of the law is to take the least custodial measures. To apply this principle, we take into account many factors, including the risk to the safety of staff and the public, the rights of victims, as well as safe, secure and humane treatment,” she said.

“And we have to find the perfect balance,” added Anne Kelly, saying “sorry for any pain” that this case may have rekindled among the relatives of the victims.

Paul Bernardo has been incarcerated since 1993 and is serving an indeterminate and life sentence for the kidnapping, torture and murders of 15-year-old Kristen French and 14-year-old Leslie Mahaffy that took place in the early 1990s.

He was previously at the maximum security Millhaven Institution near Kingston, Ontario.

A minister in the hot seat

The case got Public Security Minister Marco Mendicino into hot water. The Tories have demanded his resignation, accusing him of lying when he said he learned of the transfer after it happened.

According to information from CBC, the minister’s office was informed by CSC of the upcoming transfer on March 2, then on May 25, this time with a notice that the transfer was coming in four days. Marco Mendicino was only informed on May 30, the day after the transfer.

Three days later, on June 2, he reacted forcefully to the “shocking” and “incomprehensible” decision.

When the commissioner was speaking to the media, the department published a directive on its website aimed at preventing this type of situation from happening again. This provides that in the future, CSC will come into contact with victims before, and not after, any transfer of an offender to federal custody.

It will also now be necessary that “before transferring a notorious offender to a reduced security level, the CSC commissioner or his delegate officially and directly notifies the Minister of Public Security”, is it stated.

Time and again during the press conference, Commissioner Kelly took refuge behind the new directive when confronted with questions about the boondoggle, which could end up depriving Marco Mendicino of his minister’s car during a reshuffle which could take place next week.