PARLIAMENT PASSES LEGISLATION ENDING EARLY PAROLE FOR MURDERERS
OTTAWA, February 15, 2011 – The
Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Niagara Falls, Minister
of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Senator Pierre-Hugues
Boisvenu, today welcomed the passage by Parliament of Bill S-6, the Serious
Time for the Most Serious Crime Act. This legislation repeals
the “faint-hope clause”
that allows murderers to obtain
early parole.
“Our Government is taking action to ensure murderers serve serious
time for the most serious crime,”
said Minister Nicholson. “This
legislation will end the anguish suffered by victims’ families
attending repeated early parole hearing. Those who have been victimized
should not have to relive their losses over and over again.”
Eliminating the faint-hope clause ensures that criminals who commit first-degree murder are not eligible for parole until they serve the full 25 years of their sentence. Similarly, offenders serving life imprisonment for second-degree murder are no longer eligible for parole until their parole ineligibility period is served, which could be up to 25 years.
“Our government is taking further action to protect the rights
of victims of crime”
, said Senator Boisvenu. “We
believe the justice system must not put the rights of criminals ahead
of the rights of law-abiding citizens. We will continue to support
victims of crime and promote the ‘truth in sentencing’ that
Canadians want.”
The Act will come into force at a time to be determined. Once this occurs, offenders who commit murder on or after the date the bill comes into force will no longer be able to apply to be eligible for early parole under the faint-hope regime and those who are currently serving their life sentence or awaiting sentence will face tougher rules when they apply.
An online version of the legislation will be available at www.parl.gc.ca
Backgrounder: Legislation to repeal the “faint hope” clause.
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