Even if he had been aware of the transfer of serial killer Paul Bernardo to a medium security establishment in Quebec, the Minister of Public Security could not have changed this decision, confirms the Commissioner of the Correctional Service of Canada.
“The Minister cannot reverse the decision. The decision rests with the Correctional Services of Canada, ”said Commissioner Anne Kelly unambiguously, during a press conference Thursday.
Never mind, she said Thursday that she would now personally make sure to keep the Minister of Public Security informed of the transfer of prisoners who have this type of profile.
Ms Kelly was answering numerous questions from reporters about the high-profile decision to transfer serial killer and sex offender Paul Bernardo from the maximum-security Millhaven Institution near Kingston, Ontario, to a medium-security facility in Quebec.
Judicious decision, decide a committee
A review panel reviewed Corrections’ controversial decision, concluding that it was “judicious and consistent with all applicable laws and policies.” They are experts who independently determine whether a detainee’s request for transfer can be granted, based on statistical and clinical criteria.
Mr. Bernardo is still considered “high risk to the public”, and will not be released. His new conditions of detention at La Macaza prison, in the Laurentians, will be very similar to those of Milhaven, specifies the commissioner: same right to receive visitors or to participate in prison programs, same menu in the cafeteria, and always surrounded by high walls with armed guards. He could return to maximum security at any time.
Karla Homolka’s ex-husband is serving a life sentence after being convicted of kidnapping, torturing and murdering two teenage girls in the early 1990s in southern Ontario. Relatives of his victims oppose his transfer, a decision that Minister Mendicino himself described as “shocking and incomprehensible”.
Trudeau’s fault, according to Poilievre
“The rules were followed. Justin Trudeau wrote these rules, ”responded the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, Pierre Poilievre, Thursday.
The official opposition in Ottawa continues to call for the resignation of federal Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino. The latter claims not to have been made aware of Mr. Bernardo’s transfer, even if the staff of his office had received this information earlier this spring, as had the office of the Prime Minister.
On the merits of the case, Mr. Poilievre was careful not to criticize federal corrections, but argued that the transfer of the criminal is the consequence of measures taken by the Liberal government in the past, which have resulted in “putting prisoners in the least restrictive environments. »
He argues that the government could adopt “policies” to force his custody, and that of other serial murderers, into a maximum security prison. His party tabled Bill C-342 in June, which has this objective.
“Paul Bernardo should leave prison in a box. When he’s dead. We should never let him out of a maximum security establishment,” concludes Pierre Poilievre.
Finally, the Commissioner of the Correctional Service of Canada, Anne Kelly, indicated Thursday that she wanted to better communicate the decisions made by her institution so that Canadians “understand the processes” which she described as “complex” and “robust”.