Bill covering ‘heinous’ offences unveiled
OTTAWA — The federal government introduced legislation Wednesday that would put criminals convicted of “heinous” offences in jail for the rest of their lives.
The bill, introduced by Justice Minister Peter MacKay, is designed to ensure some criminals are given a severe penalty that falls short of capital punishment but which still sees them die in prison.
The NDP and Liberal leaders voiced suspicion Wednesday about Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s motives. They suggested existing laws make the bill unnecessary because dangerous offenders can already be prevented from being released from prison.
Instead, they say, it appears Harper is just trying to get votes several months before an election.
The tougher sentences would apply to first-degree murders involving sexual assault; kidnapping or forcible confinement; terrorism; the killing of police officers or corrections officers; or those deemed to be “particularly brutal,” says the government.
As well, anyone convicted of “high treason” would be imprisoned for the rest of their life.
Currently, people convicted of first-degree murder face an automatic sentence of life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years.
“That means even the worst and most violent offenders do have the opportunity to roam our streets, walk among our innocent and unsuspecting population and potentially kill again,” MacKay told reporters. “This would end with the passage of this bill.”
Also under the new bill, courts would have the discretion to impose life sentences without parole in any other first-degree murder case or for offenders with a previous murder conviction. Convicts facing life in prison would have only one avenue of appeal: after 35 years, they could seek release. But it would not be the National Parole Board that would decide.
Instead, their request would be sent to politicians in the federal cabinet who would decide whether to let the prisoner go free.
The proposed changes to the Criminal Code, which Harper first announced last week at a campaign-style event in Toronto, would mark a major shift from how governments have traditionally treated prisoners.
Harper said the new sentences are designed for “criminals whose crimes are so horrific that they shock the conscience of the entire community.”
He added that when someone breaks the law and pays their debt to society, “our hope is always for permanent rehabilitation.”
“But there are some criminals, the most dangerous violent offenders, whose actions means that we cannot risk permitting them back on our streets,” said Harper.
Some critics have suggested the bill, if it ever becomes law, would be struck down as unconstitutional in a court challenge.
NDP leader Tom Mulcair questioned why, if the government believes the bill is so necessary, it didn’t take action years ago.