OTTAWA, ON – The Hon. Pierre Poilievre, Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada and the Official Opposition, Raquel Dancho, Conservative Shadow Minister for Public Safety, the Hon. Rob Moore, Conservative Shadow Minister for Justice, Pierre Paul-Hus, Québec Lieutenant, and Tony Baldinelli, Member of Parliament for Niagara Falls and sponsor of Bill C-342, An Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (maximum security offenders), issued the following statement in response to the Liberal decision to uphold the transfer of Paul Bernardo to medium-security prison:

“After 8 years of Trudeau’s soft-on-crime policies, it is clear that victims’ rights come last, after those of dangerous and violent offenders. The decision today not to reverse the shocking transfer of notorious Scarborough rapist and serial killer Paul Bernardo from a maximum-security prison to more cozy conditions in medium-security prison is a direct result of disastrous Liberal policies. This should never have happened and it should not stand. Bernardo deserves to remain in maximum-security prison for the rest of his life.

“This awful situation is only made possible by changes in Liberal Bill C-83, which required prison selection to provide inmates with the “least restrictive” environment possible. The Commissioner herself confirmed that the transfer complied with the policy that this government has set. To prevent transfers like this from going ahead, or allowing this situation to ever happen again, Conservatives introduced MP Tony Baldinelli’s Private Members Bill C-342. Instead of standing with victims and doing the right thing to fix their mistake, the Liberals voted against bringing this bill into law multiple times.

“This ordeal has forced the family and friends of the victims to relive the trauma of losing their loved ones. The Trudeau Liberals continue to refuse to issue direction to CSC or show any compassion for the families. Minister Mendicino lied to Canadians when he said he couldn’t do anything about this transfer, and he can still stop it. They had the power then and they have the power now to make this right.

“This incompetence in the federal public safety file cannot carry on, and Minister Mendicino must resign.

“We call on the Minister to issue a directive today and reverse the transfer of Paul Bernardo. Conservatives will continue to stand for the rights of victims. A common sense Conservative government will bring home safer streets and victims’ rights by reversing the Liberals’ flawed legislation and ensuring that vile mass murderers like Paul Bernardo remain where they belong – in maximum security prison.”