Dad of murdered girl leads rallies seeking changes to Canada’s legal system
Supporters from across the province are expected to attend a rally Friday on Parliament Hill to protest the transfer of Victoria (Tori) Stafford’s killer to a healing lodge. Though the goal of the rally — and one the following day in Woodstock — is to press the federal government to return Terri-Lynne McClintic to prison, Tori’s dad is pushing for changes that would force killers of children and other vulnerable people to serve their sentences in prison.
“With the way today’s society is — it’s totally different,” Rodney Stafford said. “We have to adjust with the times. Criminals are finding too many flaws in the system and are able to walk free.” The peaceful protest in Ottawa is set to be the largest of several across Ontario, with supporters travelling to the nation’s capital from across the province, including a large contingent from Oxford County and Southwestern Ontario.
The protest will get underway at 8 a.m. and conclude at noon. Stafford said there is an option for Members of Parliament to speak, though he isn’t looking to get into the political part of the issue during the protest and doesn’t have any meetings planned with lawmakers while in Ottawa. Stafford and other members of Tori’s family were outraged when they learned McClintic was transferred to the Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge in Saskatchewan eight years into her sentence. Provincial and federal politicians and Woodstock’s police chief were quick to condemn the move first reported by Postmedia News. McClintic pleaded guilty in 2010 in Tori’s death and was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years. The eight-year-old was raped, beaten and murdered on April 8, 2009, after being abducted in Woodstock while walking home from school. McClintic lured Tori into the car of her boyfriend, Michael Rafferty, by promising to show her a puppy.
The girl’s body was found in a rural area near Mount Forest three months later.
Stafford said he believes McClintic’s transfer is a moral issue. He said it’s a mistake that he, and many Canadians, want reversed. “The message is Canada wants change. We want a safer Canada,” Stafford said. In almost 10 years since Tori’s death, Stafford said he has kept a level head because of his desire to achieve justice for his daughter. “To me, it’s all about Victoria. I want to be sure I do it properly. I want to be sure I do it maturely,” he said. “I have a little boy right now. He’s eight currently and he’s looking up to me and I want to give him someone to look up to.”
The rally in Woodstock will be held on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. outside the Woodstock courthouse. Organizers are asking that people wear purple — Tori’s favourite colour — to show unity and support.
Planned speakers include Stafford, Oxford MP Dave McKenzie, Woodstock Mayor Trevor Birtch and Coun. Sandra Talbot.