QUESTION PERIOD — Public Safety
Parole Board of Canada
November 20, 2024
Leader, multiple media outlets have reported today that the families of Kristen French and Leslie Mahaffy are once again being victimized by our justice system. The French and Mahaffy families are being denied the right to appear in person at Paul Bernardo’s parole hearing next week. They want to give their victim impact statements in front of the man who kidnapped, raped and killed their young daughters in one of the most horrific crimes that our country has ever known.
Their lawyer, Tim Danson, has represented the families from the start, and he calls this decision appalling, leader.
How is this possible, leader? Will your government ensure that this awful decision is overturned?
Thank you for your question and for reminding us of the horrors that those families lived through and continue to live through.
The decision by the Parole Board of Canada is one that Minister Blair disagrees with, as does the Government of Canada. However, the Parole Board of Canada operates, and has always operated, independent of government.
My sympathies are with the families whose loved ones were taken so brutally by Paul Bernardo. I know that I speak for the government in that respect, as well.
Leader, our justice system gave this sadistic murderer two life sentences and declared him a dangerous offender, yet, last year, he was moved to a medium-security prison. The Prime Minister pretended to be shocked when the jail transfer became public, and yet his staff knew for months beforehand.
This government also sought court costs from the French and Mahaffy families back in 2021.
Did the minister disagree with that, leader? When will these families and all victims of crime be treated with the respect they deserve?
Again, thank you for your question.
I can only repeat this: What the families have gone through is horrific and unimaginable. Our thoughts are with those families.
The decisions of the Parole Board of Canada are independent of government; they always have been and, indeed, should be in a democracy. Regardless, the pain to the families is unimaginable and tragic.
