April 23, 2015 Ottawa, Ontario Public Safety Canada
Today, Canada’s Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, the Honourable Steven Blaney and Member of Parliament for Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale, David Sweet, highlighted the Royal Assent of the Fairness for the Victims of Violent Offenders Act.
This Bill, introduced by Member of Parliament David Sweet, amends the Corrections and Conditional Release Act to further strengthen victim’s rights and is in keeping with the Harper Government’s plan for safe streets and communities.
Quick Facts
The Bill will:
- extend mandatory parole review periods by the Parole Board of Canada (PBC) for violent criminals who are denied parole, to reviewing the case within five years rather than the current two years;
- provide PBC with the authority to cancel the next parole review hearing for a criminal who refused to attend or waived a hearing on more than one occasion;
- allow the PBC to hold detention reviews every two years rather than annually for criminals who are detained beyond their statutory release date; and
- provide a victim of crime or a victim’s family member who is denied the opportunity to attend a hearing to be able to follow it by other means the PBC deems appropriate.
The following two provisions will come into force on a date fixed by the Governor-in-Council:
- authorize the disclosure to victims of crime of the date and time, conditions and destination regarding an offenders conditional release as long as public safety is not impacted negatively; and
- specify that information pertaining to an offender’s correctional plan, and progress on that plan may be disclosed to victims.
Quotes
Associated Links
Contacts
Jeremy Laurin
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
613-991-2924
Media Relations
Public Safety Canada
613-991-0657
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For more information, please visit the website www.publicsafety.gc.ca.
