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441-01465 (Justice)

Paper petition

Original language of petition: English

Petition to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

We, the undersigned residents of Canada, draw the attention of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada to the following:

Whereas:

The Supreme Court of Canada in R. v. Bissonnette struck down section 745.51 of the Criminal Code, which allowed parole ineligibility periods to be applied consecutively for mass murderers;

As a result of Bissonnette, some of Canada's most heinous mass murderers will have their parole ineligibility period reduced, now being eligible to apply for parole after only 25 years;

Bissonnette is an unjust decision, putting the interests of some of Canada's worst criminals ahead of the rights of their victims;

Recurring parole hearings can retraumatize the families of victims of mass murderers; and

The Government of Canada has tools at its disposal to respond to Bissonnette, including invoking the Notwithstanding Clause.

Therefore, we, the undersigned, urge the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada to invoke the Notwithstanding Clause and override Bissonnette.

Response by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Parliamentary Secretary Gary Anandasangaree

The Government of Canada acknowledges the hurt and anger that the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) decision in R. v. Bissonnette may have rekindled for victims, survivors and their families.

Nothing in the Supreme Court’s decision changes the fact that all people convicted of murder receive a mandatory life sentence, including Alexandre Bissonnette. The court did not reduce his sentence. He received a life sentence. It’s important to remember that being eligible for parole does not mean that parole will be granted.

It is exceedingly rare for multiple murderers to be paroled. Our Government supported the sentencing judge’s discretion to impose a longer period of parole ineligibility when appropriate. The Government is reviewing the decision and exploring all options to respond to the decision.

The use of the notwithstanding clause is very serious, since it suspends legal protections guaranteed by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. We believe that the notwithstanding clause should be used as a last resort, and that governments must explain the exceptional circumstances that justify the suspension of legal protections.

The Government is committed to ensuring that the criminal justice system is fair and effective at ensuring that Canada is a safe, peaceful and prosperous society.

Presented to the House of Commons
Blaine Calkins (Red Deer—Lacombe)
May 17, 2023 (Petition No. 441-01465)
Government response tabled
June 20, 2023
Photo - Blaine Calkins
Red Deer—Lacombe
Conservative Caucus
Alberta

36 signatures

Only validated signatures are counted towards the total number of signatures.