Dan Albas MP
  • Home
  • MP Report
  • About Dan
  • What Seniors Need To Know
  • Contact
  • Constituency Services
  • Dan in Ottawa
  • Disclosure
  • Videos
  • Home
  • MP Report
  • About Dan
  • What Seniors Need To Know
  • Contact
  • Constituency Services
  • Dan in Ottawa
  • Disclosure
  • Videos

MP Report

Ensuring that a life sentence is a sentence for life

3/4/2015

0 Comments

 
This week our Prime Minister announced that a new Government Bill will be introduced in the House of Commons early next week. This bill proposes to change the terms of parole for some of Canada’s most disturbing and senseless acts of murder to ensure that in these situations a life sentence in jail more closely resembles a sentence for life. It will be proposed that in serious criminal cases that involve a conviction of first degree murder, that is murder that is both planned and deliberately executed, would be subject to a life sentence without parole.

What types of serious criminal offences would apply? A kidnap or sexual assault that results in a murder, first degree murder of police, correctional guards or other law enforcement personnel, and acts of terrorism are a few examples where life sentences without parole could apply. 

Although parole eligibility would be eliminated in these situations those who have served a life sentence after a minimum of 35 years could apply to the Minister of Public Safety for exceptional release. Decisions on application for special release would ultimately be subject to Ministerial approval and not part of a conventional parole hearing process.

While these proposed changes would only impact a relatively small number of our most serious criminal offenders they will be welcome news for a very important segment of Canadians: the friends, families and victims who are left behind after such a senseless loss. Many are unaware that Canada’s current parole entitlement to criminals means that even those with potentially no hope of release are still able to participate in a parole hearing every two years. For family and friends of a murdered loved one, this often results in travelling a significant distance to be forced to re-live one of life’s most traumatizing moments every two years. It is a very painful process that is often referred to as “re-victimization” and as I have stated previously in the House of Commons, for victims it should not have to be this way.

While some think of well publicized murders such as Clifford Olson or Paul Bernardo, even here in Okanagan-Coquihalla the family and friends of the Johnson and Bentley families have been forced to re-live this tragedy as convicted murdered David Shearing remains eligible for these parole hearings. Last fall I presented a petition of over 10,000 signatures from Okanagan-Coquihalla to the Minister of Public Safety opposing the release of Mr. Shearing. For many volunteers, who in some cases have also lost loved ones, the process of collecting these signatures is a painful but important exercise.

Although there have been private members bills previously that have proposed an end to this re-victimization of families through the current parole process, none to date have received Royal Assent. A Government Bill, though not retro-active, would ensure families who have been victimized by brutal and senseless acts of first degree murder would not be forced to continue to revisit such a devastating trauma every two years.  I welcome your views on this or any subject before the House of Commons.  I can be reached via email at dan.albas@parl.gc.ca or at 1 (800) 665-8711.

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Subscribe to the MP Report

    Sign up now to get Dan's weekly MP report emailed directly to you! 
    OR
    Sign up now to get a monthly MP Report mailed directly to your home.
    Subscribe Here

    Author

    Dan Albas is the Member of Parliament  for the riding of Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola.
    ​
    Communicating with his constituents is one of his top priorities. Dan writes a new MP Report each week.

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    July 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

​Dan Albas is the proud Member of Parliament for 
Central Okanagan – Similkameen – Nicola
Subscribe to Dan's MP Report
Contact Dan
Photos used under Creative Commons from comedy_nose, bulliver, FutUndBeidl, scazon, Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee, Chris Lancaster, Jamie In Bytown, mikecogh, couloir