OTTAWA, April 25, 2013 – The Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Niagara Falls, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, announced the Government's support for Private Member's Bill C-478, the Respecting Families of Murdered and Brutalized Persons Act. Sponsored by James Bezan, M.P. for Selkirk-Interlake, this legislation would restrict parole eligibility for some of the most violent murderers.
"Our Government is committed to keeping our streets and communities safe by ensuring that the most dangerous criminals are kept off our streets and standing up for the families of victims of crime," said Minister Nicholson. "I applaud my colleague James Bezan for his efforts to keep our communities safe and to spare families and loved ones of murder victims from being re-traumatized by repeated parole hearings for convicted murderers."
Bill C-478 would amend the Criminal Code to strengthen the criminal justice system's response to murder where it occurs in the context of a kidnapping or abduction offence and a sexual offence committed against the murder victim. In those circumstances, the Bill proposes that offenders would not be eligible for parole for at least 25 years. Under this Bill, a judge would also have the discretion to replace the 25-year parole ineligibility period for these offenders by a longer period of up to 40 years, based on existing Criminal Code criteria.
"The most vile and deranged murderers in our society are eligible for a parole hearing every two years after their 25 years have been served, and that is morally wrong," said Mr. Bezan. "It is at parole hearings that victims' families are forced to re-live the trauma and confront those who brutalized their loved ones. This legislation would empower our courts to change this."
The Government's support for the proposed legislation is in keeping with the Government's Plan for Safe Streets and Communities, which is one of four priorities identified recently by the Prime Minister. This plan focuses on holding violent criminals accountable, enhancing the rights of victims, and increasing the efficiency of our justice system.
Backgrounder: Government of Canada Supports Private Member's Bill C-478
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