On Mar 4 Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Conservatives announced their plan to enact Bill C-53. The Bill would ensure that a life sentence is just that – a sentence for life.
The Bill, which is known as the “Life Means Life Act” in the House of Commons, would amend the Criminal Code to make it make mandatory for Canada’s “most heinous” criminals to serve a life sentence with no chance of parole. According to Harper, the most serious crimes that would warrant a mandatory life sentence include first-degree murder, terrorism and the killing of a police officer.
Harper believes that ensuring dangerous criminals are never released back into society is respectful to families who have lost loved ones as well as protects the general public. When he made the announcement introducing Bill C-53, Harper said that if a criminal who was supposed to spend the rest of their life in prison was to commit another crime upon their release it would be a "betrayal" to the family who has lost a loved one.
Not everyone shares the prime minster's sentiment that imposing Bill C-53 will make things safer in Canada. Catherine Latimer, executive director of the John Howard Society in Kingston, called Harper's proposed bill "unfair", "cruel" and "dangerous." According to Latimer, removing a prisoners chance for parole would make the job of watching over them more difficult and more dangerous.
"Corrections officers and others have expressed concerns about controlling behaviour and motivating good behaviour because there is absolutely no carrot being held in front of them [the prisoners]," she explained.
Latimer added that she doesn't see the effectiveness of Harper's planned provisions. She said the standard 25-life sentence gives prisoners time to "age and mature", allowing them and the victims' loved ones to move on from the traumatic experience.
Sean C (last name withheld) was sentenced to jail for uttering death threats. He said that the life sentence is a fair punishment, but should not mean life behind bars.
While Sean acknowledged the fact that those who have spent time in prison should be monitored, he added "people should have a chance to prove themselves remorseful for their crimes."
Prime Minster Harper stated that his reasoning for wanting to impose Bill C-53 to prevent dangerous criminals from committing further crimes upon release. Government records show that there are currently 203 people who were convicted of first-degree murder out on parole. Anthony Doob, professor of criminology and socio-legal studies at the University of Toronto, doesn't think these people integrated back into the community pose a threat.
"No. Repeat murders by those released from prison for murder account for fewer than half of one per cent of all murders in Canada (less than one per cent of released offenders)." he said.
If Parliament approves the Bill it would continue with the Harper government’s eight years of “tough on crime” policies, which has seen the introduction of more than 60 crime bills. To address some of the “constitutional concerns” that Bill C-53 raises, those who are sentenced to life without parole would have the right to petition to the public safety minister after serving 35 years of their sentence.
Several politicians have criticized Harper's position including NDP justice critic Francoise Boivin, Green Party leader Elizabeth May and Liberal leader Justin Trudeau who accused the prime minister of "campaigning on fear."
According to the latest annual report of the Office of the Correctional Investigator, "one-quarter of the incarcerated population is serving a life or indeterminate sentence."
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