Transfer of Paul Bernardo | Poilievre calls for Mendicino’s departure

(OTTAWA) Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre is calling for the resignation of Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino over his handling of the transfer of serial killer and rapist Paul Bernardo to a medium-security penitentiary.

“The Conservative Party claims the resignation of Marco Mendicino for having lied”, decided the Conservative leader on his arrival at the meeting of his party’s caucus on Wednesday morning.

If he accuses the minister of having lied, it is because his office was informed by the Correctional Service of Canada (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, CBC reported Tuesday night.

Minister Mendicino was only informed on May 30, the day after the transfer, according to what his press secretary told CBC.

Three days later, on June 2, he reacted forcefully to CSC’s decision, calling it “shocking” and “incomprehensible.” He then contacted the organization’s commissioner, Anne Kelly, to ask her to review the decision.

“She informed me that CSC ordered a review of its classification to ensure victims are adequately and appropriately considered and evidence-based. I await the results of this review and will ensure it is conducted expeditiously,” he wrote on June 5 on Twitter.

But in the eyes of Pierre Poilievre, Minister Mendicino lied on the pretext of surprise. And the alleged deception on the transfer of Paul Bernardo adds to a too long list, after comments on the use of the Emergency Measures Acthunting weapons and so-called Chinese police stations.

“That’s too many lies. This is one lie too many. It’s time for Marco Mendicino to step down,” he said.

Shock wave

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, which took place at the start of the 1990s.

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.

His transfer sent shock waves across the country.

The Premier of Ontario, Doug Ford, among others, did not mince his words to express all his indignation, calling Paul Bernardo a son of a bitch and scum. He also asked for the dismissal of Anne Kelly.

Political interference denounced

The Bernardo case inspired the Association of Progressive Prison Lawyers to denounce political interference in the management of sentences. According to the organization, it is inadmissible that “under threat and pressure from the government”, the commissioner ordered a reassessment of the decision.

“Under no circumstances should the government interfere in the management of establishments and even less in the public square. The independence of the Correctional Service as a decision-making institution and sentence manager must be maintained, preserved and defended,” the Association insisted in a press release.

With The Canadian Press