Global Courant
The office of Public Security Minister Marco Mendicino said on Wednesday evening that it first learned of the possible transfer of Paul Bernardo in March, but details of the transfer had not been confirmed at the time and the minister did not meet in person until months later. amount of the transfer.
Mendicino and his office have come under scrutiny in recent days for the handling of the case, which has sparked outrage across Canada and reopened old wounds for the victims’ families, who have also seen their perpetrators killed in recent years. transferred to less secure facilities.
In a statement to CTV News, Audrey Champoux, press secretary and senior communications consultant in Mendicino’s office, said the office first learned on March 2 of the possible transfer of Bernardo, a notorious serial rapist and murderer, through “generic communications products.”
Champoux said this came after the minister’s office received a request from the prime minister’s office discussing the possible transfer and asking for more information.
“At this time, the details of the transfer had not been confirmed. Staff were exploring possible options to possibly change the independent decision in the subsequent period and were told there were none,” she said in a statement to CTV News on Wednesday night. .
Champoux said Mendicino was personally notified Bernardo’s transfer to a medium-security prison in Quebec on May 30, the day after Bernardo was actually transferred by the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC).
“He immediately requested to see the (CSC Commissioner) and a meeting was arranged as soon as possible,” she added.
“During this period, the authority to make or change the decision rested solely with CSC.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office also confirmed on Wednesday that the prime minister had been notified of the transfer on May 29 – but his staff were informed earlier – for Mendicino.
In a new statement from the Office of the Minister of Public Security, Mendicino’s press secretary says office staff first learned of Bernardo’s transfer when they received “general communication products about the transfer of detainees” on March 2, following a request from PMO pic.twitter.com/rBvOM64waD
— Annie Bergeron-Oliver (@AnnieClaireBO) June 14, 2023
The handling of the case also drew criticism from the official opposition, which on Wednesday morning called on Mendicino to resign over the handling of the case. Conservative leader Pierre Poilièvre accused Medicino of “lying” to Canadians about when he was notified of Bernardo’s transfer and said Trudeau “should fire him if the minister does not step aside or take action to bring those responsible in his office.”
Defending himself in the House of Commons, Mendicino issued a statement on Wednesday signaling changes are coming, including requiring the CSC to inform victims when a prisoner is transferred from maximum-security to less-secure facilities and to inform the minister “formally and directly to notify in advance.
In a statement to CTV News, the CSC acknowledged that continued public attention to this case must be “very difficult” for Bernardo’s victims and their families and expressed regret for “any pain or concern this transfer has caused.”
The federal agency said that under the policy, when an offender is transferred to a medium-level institution, the victim support department notifies the victims once the transfer is complete.
“However, in this case, the victims were notified on the day of the transfer (at 09:00) and were provided with additional information immediately after the transfer,” the statement reads.
“This was done verbally and in writing, and the notice included all information victims are entitled to under the Correctional and Conditional Release Act, including security level, location, and a summary of reasons for transfer.”
The CSC said it also explained the differences between medium and maximum security settings, provided registered victims with a “progress report on the correction plan” for Bernardo and a CSC commissioner spoke directly to one of the victims “at their request” and answered their questions.
“Please note, one of the considerations for not being notified earlier was the safety and security of the personnel tasked with carrying out the transfer as it was common knowledge that the perpetrator was at Millhaven Institution,” the government agency added. up to it.
Bernardo, 58, was convicted in 1995 of kidnapping, raping, torturing and murdering two teenagers in the early 1990s near St. Catharines, Ont. He was also convicted of manslaughter in the death of Tammy Homolka.
Sentenced to life in prison, he is listed as a dangerous offender and is currently serving an indefinite sentence with no end date.
With files from CTVNews.ca’s Senior Digital Parliamentary Reporter Rachel Aiello and CTV National News’ Parliamentary Bureau Reporter Annie Bergeron-Oliver
