MP McLeod supports tough new legislation for multiple murders and early parole

October 29, 2009

Ottawa - Cathy McLeod, Member of Parliament for Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo says the justice legislation introduced this week will not only fix a major problem in our parole system that allows early release of criminals, but will end sentence discounts for multiple murders.

“It’s time that we ensured that those who commit the most serious crimes of all, taking a life, will pay a more appropriate price,” said McLeod. “The value of each life taken will finally be acknowledged and multiple murderers will no longer get volume discounts.”

Bill C-54 will allow judges to impose consecutive parole ineligibility periods on individuals convicted of more than one first or second degree murder. Under the current system, individuals convicted of multiple murders serve their parole ineligibility periods concurrently,
and are therefore subject to only one 25 year parole ineligibility period, regardless of the number of victims.

“I’m pleased that we also took action to correct the current system of Accelerated Parole Review. This allows criminals convicted of non-violent offenses to obtain parole after serving only one-sixth of their sentence and full parole after serving just one-third. Parole in such cases was virtually automatic, and the National Parole Board was powerless to stop the release of a criminal, even when they believed the criminal would re-offend,” stated McLeod.

Bill C-53 will abolish Accelerated Parole Review, this means that financial scam artists and other non-violent offenders will no longer be released on day parole after serving one–sixth of their sentences.

“In light of the hundreds of investors who have been swindled in a variety of investment scams, it was time to send the message that even white collar criminals can no longer stroll out of prison after serving one sixth of their sentence, and qualify for full parole after a third of their sentence,” concluded McLeod.