PBC Statement

Statement by the Parole Board of Canada (PBC) in response to the final report of the National Joint Board of Investigation into the Mass Stabbing Deaths in Saskatchewan by an offender on Statutory Release

March 12, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Parole Board of Canada

Jennifer Oades, Chairperson, Parole Board of Canada, issued the following statement on the findings and recommendations of the National Joint Board of Investigation (BOI) into the circumstances around the September 4, 2022 mass stabbings incident in the James Smith Cree Nation (JSCN) and the village of Weldon, Saskatchewan.

On September 4, 2022, Saskatchewan RCMP identified offender Myles Sanderson as having been involved in mass stabbings which had resulted in the death of 11 victims, and injuries to 17 other victims in the James Smith Cree Nation (JSCN) and the village of Weldon, both located in the province of Saskatchewan. On September 7, 2022, he was apprehended by the RCMP near the town of Rosthern, Saskatchewan, and later died in police custody.

At the time of these incidents, Myles Sanderson was a 32-year-old Indigenous offender serving his first federal sentence of four years, four months and 19 days. As per the law, he was statutorily released after serving two-thirds of his sentence. He had been unlawfully at large (UAL) from his statutory release for several months at the time of the incident, and a Warrant of Suspension and Apprehension had been issued by the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC).   

This incident was one of Canada’s worst mass stabbings, and deeply impacted the residents of James Smith Cree Nation and Weldon, Saskatchewan, and shocked Canadians across the country. The Parole Board of Canada (PBC) extends its deepest sympathies to all of the victims, their family members and loved-ones, community members, and everyone else impacted by these tragic events.

As a result of this incident, on September 23, 2022, the PBC and the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) convened a National Joint Board of Investigation (BOI), guided by requirements set out in the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (CCRA), to look at the Statutory Release, community supervision and decisions in this case. It was composed of two external community Co-Chairs and four members from both CSC and PBC. Three of its members are Indigenous, and all have experience and expertise in the criminal justice system. An Independent Observer, an Indigenous person, was also appointed to ensure the thoroughness, integrity and impartiality of the investigative process.  

Today, CSC and PBC released the BOI report’s findings and recommendations. The BOI made ten (10) recommendations to the PBC, and four (4) recommendations to CSC.

The BOI found there were no pre-incident indicators or precipitating events that were known to staff, or that staff could have acted upon to prevent this incident.

The report also found that the overall case preparation leading up to the release of the offender was both reasonable and appropriate, including the consideration of the Indigenous social history of the offender in the decision-making process. The report also found that the PBC’s documented reasons for its decisions (written decisions) in this case reflected an analysis and assessment of the relevant aspects of the case. It further found that the PBC Board members involved were qualified, trained and experienced decision-makers, and that the decisions were well-written, flowed logically and complied with the principles and criteria of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act and policy requirements.

I want to thank the BOI co-chairs and members for their thorough and professional work throughout this investigation.

The PBC has reviewed the BOI’s recommendations. In several areas, action is already underway, or has been taken, to address the issues raised in these recommendations.  

Some of the PBC’s key actions include:

• Increasing the quorum for post-suspension cases

  The PBC is working towards an increase to the quorum for post-suspension cases (i.e., when an offender’s release in the community is suspended and the Board must determine to either cancel the suspension and return the offender in the community, revoke or terminate parole/statutory release) from one to two Board members. The PBC will also ensure that the process for Board members to request an increase in quorum is clear and easily understood.

• Providing additional guidance on existing policies and authorities

  The PBC will provide refresher training to its Board members and staff in relation to information standards for conditional release decision-making, and the issuance of reprimands to offenders, to ensure that its meaning is clearly communicated using plain language to the offender, both at the hearing and in the written decision. 

• Ensuring scheduling guidelines support quality Board member decision-writing

  The PBC has taken steps to further harmonize its operations and policies to effectively manage and balance Board member workloads and to ensure they have sufficient time to write quality decisions. The PBC is committed to the highest standard of quality in its decision-making.

• Providing training to Board members specific to domestic violence, to contribute to quality decision-making
  

  The PBC provides both rigorous and continual training to its Board members. The topic of domestic violence has been embedded within the Board member Orientation curriculum and in various continuous learning events. The Board will continue to make this type of training a focus of Board member training.

The PBC is committed to its public safety mandate and continues to strive to fulfill it, in accordance with the law, to the highest standards. The protection of society is the paramount consideration for the Parole Board of Canada in all conditional release decisions.

Quick Facts

• This National Joint BOI process was guided by requirements set out in the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (CCRA). The purpose of a BOI is to allow for a thorough review of the actions taken by PBC and CSC including whether laws, policies and protocols were followed and to identify any recommendations and corrective measures. National Joint BOI reports support PBC and CSC's probity, transparency, accountability and professionalism.
  
  
• Statutory release is a release by law. It is not parole and is not a decision of the Parole Board of Canada. By law, most offenders (except those serving a life or indeterminate sentence) must be released by the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) and be supervised by a CSC parole officer after serving 2/3's of their sentence.
  
  
• Offenders on Statutory Release must follow standard conditions, which include reporting to a CSC parole officer, remaining within geographic boundaries, and obeying the law and keeping the peace. The PBC may also impose special conditions specific to the offender. In some instances, offenders are required to reside in a halfway house or community correctional centre operated by CSC. If an offender breaches any of their conditions, their release can be suspended and the offender returned to prison. CSC can then cancel the suspension or refer the case to the PBC for a post-suspension review.
  
  
• When an offender is supervised in the community and subsequently goes unlawfully-at-large (UAL), a suspension warrant is issued by CSC and the police are immediately notified.
  
  
• In addition to this Joint CSC-PBC Board of Investigation, the Chief Coroner of Saskatchewan held two separate Public Inquests into these incidents in January and February 2024. There were no recommendations for the PBC following the first inquest in relation to the 11 deaths that occurred on the James Smith Cree Nation and in Weldon, Saskatchewan on September 4, 2022.
   

Contacts

Media Relations
Parole Board of Canada
613-960-1856
media@pbc-clcc.gc.ca