Bill C-235 — Law Would Make It Harder for Murderers to Get Parole
Tougher Parole for Murderers
This proposed law, put forward by Jeff Kibble, aims to change the Criminal Code. It focuses on how long someone must stay in prison before they can ask for parole. Parole is when a prisoner is released early, under supervision. The proposed law would make some criminals wait longer before they can apply for parole. This would apply to people convicted of very serious crimes. Specifically, this proposed law would affect people who commit terrible crimes. It would also affect the families of victims. If passed, some offenders would spend more time in prison. This could give victims' families a greater sense of justice. It may also make some people feel safer. This proposed law matters because it changes the justice system. It changes how we deal with serious crimes. It also shows a focus on the rights and feelings of victims and their families. The proposed law is currently being discussed in the House of Commons.
I want to change the rules for parole for those who commit terrible crimes like abduction, sexual assault, and murder. My bill would let judges make these criminals wait longer before they can ask for parole, up to 40 years. This will help protect the families of victims from having to relive the awful things that happened to their loved ones.
I think this bill has a good goal: to help victims of terrible crimes. But to make it a strong law that lasts, we need to change it. I suggest three changes to make sure it follows the rules and helps families in the best way.
I respect the intent of the bill, which aims to protect families from the pain of parole hearings. However, I think the bill is not realistic or constitutional because the Supreme Court has ruled against extending parole ineligibility in a similar case, and the bill's sponsor isn't willing to use the tools needed to make it valid, so I will vote against it.
Where this proposed law falls on the policy spectrums that Canadians care about
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Sign up free — 30 secThis proposed law aims to ensure people convicted of murder combined with serious sexual assault or abduction serve a longer time in prison before being considered for parole, setting a minimum of 25 years for these specific, very serious crimes. However, it gives juries a new role in recommending parole eligibility, which could be complex for them, and focuses on increasing punishment rather than preventing these crimes from happening.
Things to Watch For
- This law only applies to a very specific combination of murder and sexual assault or abduction, not all serious violent crimes.
- While the jury can recommend a longer parole period, the judge still makes the final decision on how long it will be (up to 40 years).
- Asking juries to recommend parole ineligibility periods is a new step and might be difficult for them to do fairly.
- Longer prison sentences could affect an offender's motivation to participate in rehabilitation programs.
- The law does not address how to prevent these terrible crimes from happening in the first place.
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How likely this proposed law is to be approved
This is a private member's bill, meaning it was proposed by an individual MP, not the government. These bills rarely pass unless the government adopts them, and it's still early in the process.
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