In April, it was discovered that Graham James, a former junior hockey coach, was granted a pardon for sexually assaulting two minors. This summer, Karl Homolka, who assisted Paul Bernado in the sex slayings of two girls, is eligible for a pardon. I believe these two cases are proof the pardon process needs to be tightened! I do not think the rights of criminals should be put ahead of the rights of victims and law- abiding citizens.
 
Last week, Public Safety Minister Vic Toews, announced legislation that will replace the current pardon system and eliminate pardons for serious crimes. The new system would eliminate “pardons” and replace with a more restrictive and narrowly worded “record suspension”. Anyone convicted of a sex offence against a child and convicted of more than three indictable offences would be permanently ineligible. In all other cases, the legislation would increase the period of ineligibility for a record suspension – to five years for summary conviction offences, and to ten years for indictable offences.
 
It is my opinion that the current pardons system implies that what the offender did is somehow okay, or is forgiven, or that the harm done has somehow disappeared. I disagree and am on the side of victims. A criminal’s jail term may end but, victims of crimes suffer for a lifetime. I believe a serious crime is still a serious crime, no matter how much time has passed. I support this legislation because it will help protect our children and our communities, and it will better reflect Canadians’ natural sense of justice.
 
Guy Lauzon MP