(Ottawa) Paul Bernardo, “one of the most diabolical monsters in the history of Canada”, must be sent back to a maximum security prison, pleads the Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, who does not digest the transfer of the prisoner to a medium-security prison in Quebec.
Flanked by friends of one of Paul Bernardo’s victims, the Conservative leader held a press briefing in Ottawa on Sunday to ask the federal government to intervene in this case and force the Correctional Service of Canada to transfer the man from 58 years to a maximum security prison.
PHOTO SEAN KILPATRICK, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, Pierre Poilievre
According to Poilievre, the government “has the power” to force the hand of Correctional Service Canada Commissioner Anne Kelly to overturn the decision that allowed Paul Bernardo to be sent to a medium-security prison.
“The commissioner of our prison system must accept directives from the Minister of Public Security. Several ministers have already made this kind of directive in relation to prisoners, so the Trudeau government has the power to make this kind of directive, ”hammered Mr. Poilievre.
On Monday, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino, however, explained that he had expressed his concerns to Commissioner Kelly, but that he could not overturn the decision himself, because the Correctional Service operates as an independent institution.
Mr Poilievre, however, believes that the families of the victims face “harassment” when they receive calls to inform them that the serial killer and rapist has been transferred to a prison where he enjoys “more freedoms”.
“It’s been 31 years since the heinous crimes of Mr. Bernardo and still today, he is able to harass the families of the victims. Enough is enough, ”launched the Conservative leader.
Controversial
Paul Bernardo is currently 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 connection with the death of 15-year-old Tammy Homolka, who died after being drugged and sexually assaulted. He also admitted to sexually assaulting 14 other women.
The prisoner was imprisoned at the maximum security institution of Millhaven, near Kingston, Ont., but he has just been transferred to the medium security institution of La Macaza, in the Laurentians.
Both in Ottawa and in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, this transfer aroused passions. Ontario Premier Doug Ford even went so far as to call for the resignation — or dismissal — of Commissioner Kelly.
The Correctional Service of Canada has so far refused to explain why Paul Bernardo had the right to this transfer, citing its obligation to protect the privacy rights of inmates. However, he has already announced the holding of “a new examination of the case of this offender” following the outcry created by this decision.
“It is important to note that medium security institutions have the same perimeter controls as maximum security institutions (high fences, armed checkpoints, armed correctional officers equipped with adequate security equipment, etc.) and that all precautions possible are taken to ensure the safety of the public, ”added the Correctional Service on Friday.
Law Project
Still, to ensure that “all court-convicted dangerous offenders and mass murderers are permanently placed in a maximum-security facility,” the Conservatives will introduce a bill in the House of Commons this week. municipalities.
Led by Ontario MP Tony Baldinelli, the bill “would force any multiple murderer like Paul Bernardo to stay in the maximum jails for their entire sentence,” Poilievre said Sunday.
“We need clear laws to protect Canadians, but even more so, the staff who work in our prisons. Real consequences are needed for a monster like that, ”said the Conservative leader, calling on the Liberals to adopt this bill “unanimously”.