QUESTION PERIOD — Public Safety
Parole Board of Canada
June 10, 2025
I also wish to associate myself with all the tributes made. I thank you for your service to Canada.
Skylar Pelletier is a high-risk offender who was arrested in Vancouver after being seen committing an indecent act in public and watching residences. He’s currently under a long-term supervision order for sexual assault, assault and break and enter. In March 2024, police explicitly warned that he posed a risk of significant harm to women, and yet he was still roaming freely in the community until recently. This is a clear example of the effect of 10 years of the Liberal government’s soft-on-crime policies.
Leader, does the Liberal government care more about the comfort and freedom of offenders than about the safety of women in Canada?
Senator Martin, first, thank you for your kind words. It has been an honour working with you.
The answer is “no.” The primary responsibility of a government is to keep its country and citizens safe. That is at the heart of this government and all previous governments. At the same time, the government is mindful of the constitutional obligations it has to treat all citizens fairly. It is also mindful of the responsibilities that are allocated by our constitution and traditions to other levels of government and other institutions within the governing systems of Canada, whether that be provincial or police forces, Correctional Service Canada and the like.
So this is not an example of that, although it is a tragic story that somebody continues to do harm in a community — any community.
The problem is that this is one of many examples we are hearing about across Canada. I can give another example: Albert de Villiers, convicted of repeatedly sexually assaulting a young child, is already free after just four years; yet the Parole Board of Canada acknowledges that he still presents a medium risk of reoffending.
Again, leader, is the Liberal government more concerned with the reintegration of pedophiles than with the safety of children in Canada?
Senator Martin, unfortunately, in a country as large and diverse as Canada, one can always find examples of a system, like the parole board system or Correctional Service Canada, making decisions that may be questioned after the fact.
However, the answer is your question is “no,” again, despite the regrettable and tragic harm that individuals may cause.
