Prison service says MP’s rink story untrue

Canada’s prison service says there has been no functioning ice hockey rink for the past two winters at an institution where a Conservative MP says notorious inmates can play “taxpayer-funded serial killer pickup hockey.”

Frank Caputo toured the La Macaza Institution last month — and says that, after visiting Paul Bernardo’s own cell, he even came face-toface with the serial rapist and convicted murderer.

Caputo decried the availability of recreational facilities for vicious criminals, but Correctional Service Canada says there is currently no working hockey rink or tennis court at the prison, located about 190 kilometres from Montreal.

And the agency says its understanding is the MP did not “interact” with the infamous convict.

Bernardo was transferred to the medium-security prison last year from the penitentiary in Ontario where he lived for decades.

His move set off a political firestorm for the Liberals, as Tories demanded he be returned to serve out his indeterminate life sentence in maximum-security conditions.

Bernardo was imprisoned for the sexual assault and murder of 15year-old Kristen French and 14year-old Leslie Mahaffy, in the early 1990s near St. Catharines.

He was also convicted of manslaughter in the December 1990 death of 15-year-old Tammy Homolka, the younger sister of his then wife, Karla Homolka. Bernardo, who was designated a dangerous offender, has admitted to sexually assaulting 14 other women.

The prison service has said procedures were followed and Bernardo met the criteria to be reclassified as a medium-security inmate.

Caputo, a Conservative MP from B.C. who serves as a party critic in Parliament on justice matters, released a video on social media detailing a tour he took of the institution. In the video, Caputo said he was provided access to Bernardo’s cell while the inmate was away.

He said that, after a “couple of minutes,” he turned around to see Bernardo, whose likeness was “unmistakable. Just seeing him, coming eye to eye with him, I had a physical reaction,” he said.

The correctional service confirmed Caputo and union representatives visited the prison in February and officials granted the MP’s request to access Bernardo’s cell while the inmate wasn’t in. However, said spokesperson Kevin Antonucci, “it is our understanding that participants did not interact with Paul Bernardo during their visit.”