The Conservative government will bring in legislation to tighten the pardon system by the fall at the latest.
The move follows revelations by The Canadian Press that hockey coach Graham James received a pardon for sexual-abuse convictions.
Public Safety Minister Vic Toews said Prime Minister Stephen Harper asked him last Friday to move quickly on changes to the system.
Harper told a victims' rights group on Monday the present system pays too much attention to the rights of offenders.
"Convicted sex offender Graham James received a pardon, quietly, three years ago," Harper said. "Even though he ruined the lives of boys who just wanted to play hockey, he can travel without having to admit his criminal record.
"That, too, is offensive. But that, my friends, is how the laws have been written over the past few decades — written when soft-on-crime attitudes were fashionable and concern for criminals took priority over compassion for victims."
James is the junior hockey coach who pleaded guilty in 1997 to sexually abusing two of his players, including ex-NHLer Sheldon Kennedy. James's 3½-year sentence was up in 2000. Because of the serious nature of his offences, he had to wait five years — as opposed to three — to apply for a pardon.
He was pardoned in January 2007 but it only came to light publicly this month.
Toews said he prefers legislation to regulatory changes to the pardon system, because he's not convinced rule changes would address what happened in the James case.
"I think that simply looking at it by way of making administrative changes doesn't appear to be sufficient," Toews said.
The government made some changes in 2007, he said, but they didn't address all the problems of the pardon system.
The government will respect the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in its legislation, Toews added.
Public opinion in Canada has swung from thinking the pardon system is merely "offensive" to finding it intolerable, Harper said.
"For many years, the vast majority of Canadians have found this deeply offensive. Now, they find it unacceptable. Yet, for now, the law remains," he said in a speech opening National Victims of Crime Awareness Week.
He pointed out that Karla Homolka, convicted in the slaying of three girls, will be eligible to apply for a pardon this year and that 99 per cent of pardon applications that reach the adjudication stage are granted.
"The problems run deep, but we will keep pushing forward," Harper said.
Homolka eligible for pardon; new legislation pending
OTTAWA - Prime Minister Stephen Harper says ex-convict Karla Homolka will be able to apply for a pardon this year.
It's the latest in a series of frustrations the prime minister said he has felt in the last few weeks about the weaknesses in Canada's justice system.
Harper said the news that murderer Clifford Olson is receiving government pension benefits in jail was compounded by revelations by The Canadian Press that hockey coach Graham James received a pardon for sexual-abuse convictions.
Homolka, who was convicted of manslaughter in the sex-slaying of two girls, is also eligible to apply for a pardon through a system that grants 99 per cent of applicants their wishes, Harper noted.
"For many years, the vast majority of Canadians have found this deeply offensive. Now, they find it unacceptable," Harper told a victims' rights conference.
"Yet, for now, the law remains. And the law will allow Karla Homolka to apply for a pardon this year."
As a result, Public Safety Minister Vic Toews said he has been asked to table legislation to tighten the pardon system by this fall at the latest.
Toews says he prefers legislation to regulatory changes to the pardon system, because he's not convinced rule changes would address what happened in the James case.
"I think that simply looking at it by way of making administrative changes doesn't appear to be sufficient," Toews said.
He noted that the government made some changes in 2007, but they didn't address all the problems of the pardon system, and didn't prevent James from being pardoned.
Harper said that situation is unacceptable.
"Even though he ruined the lives of boys who just wanted to play hockey, he can travel without having to admit his criminal record.
"That, too, is offensive. But that, my friends, is how the laws have been written over the past few decades. Written when soft-on-crime attitudes were fashionable and concern for criminals took priority over compassion for victims."
Public opinion in Canada has swung from thinking the pardon system is merely "offensive" to finding it intolerable, Harper said.
"The problems run deep, but we will keep pushing forward," Harper said.
Homolka eligible for pardon; new legislation pending
OTTAWA - Prime Minister Stephen Harper says ex-convict Karla Homolka will be able to apply for a pardon this year.
It's the latest in a series of frustrations the prime minister said he has felt in the last few weeks about the weaknesses in Canada's justice system.
Harper said the news that murderer Clifford Olson is receiving government pension benefits in jail was compounded by revelations by The Canadian Press that hockey coach Graham James received a pardon for sexual-abuse convictions.
Homolka, who was convicted of manslaughter in the sex-slaying of two girls, is also eligible to apply for a pardon through a system that grants 99 per cent of applicants their wishes, Harper noted.
"For many years, the vast majority of Canadians have found this deeply offensive. Now, they find it unacceptable," Harper told a victims' rights conference.
"Yet, for now, the law remains. And the law will allow Karla Homolka to apply for a pardon this year."
As a result, Public Safety Minister Vic Toews said he has been asked to table legislation to tighten the pardon system by this fall at the latest.
Toews says he prefers legislation to regulatory changes to the pardon system, because he's not convinced rule changes would address what happened in the James case.
"I think that simply looking at it by way of making administrative changes doesn't appear to be sufficient," Toews said.
He noted that the government made some changes in 2007, but they didn't address all the problems of the pardon system, and didn't prevent James from being pardoned.
Harper said that situation is unacceptable.
"Even though he ruined the lives of boys who just wanted to play hockey, he can travel without having to admit his criminal record.
"That, too, is offensive. But that, my friends, is how the laws have been written over the past few decades. Written when soft-on-crime attitudes were fashionable and concern for criminals took priority over compassion for victims."
Public opinion in Canada has swung from thinking the pardon system is merely "offensive" to finding it intolerable, Harper said.
"The problems run deep, but we will keep pushing forward," Harper said.
Let me say this again.. THERE IS NOTHING FLAWED WITH THE PARDON SYSTEM!! The media fails to report on the overwhelming statistics stating its success. 97% of people granted pardons since 1970, have been successful in leading crime free and productive lives in the community. Only 3% of pardons have been revoked. And of 4000 sex offenders granted pardons since 1970, less than 1% have been revoked. To me, these statistics demonstrated success of the pardon system not failure, by any means. All offenders deserve a second chance at making things right in their lives. If we deny individuals access to a pardon, we severely limit their job prospects and with unemployment, comes the increased probability of re-offending. Pardons help previous offenders obtain housing and employment, both of which are necessary for successful reintegration and rehabilitation. If we deny these people the access to pardons, we are undoubtedly going to cause these individuals even more frustration and anger and increased re-offending. A person's previous criminal record and label should not reflect negatively on their character for their entire lives.
I fully support NOT tightening up the pardon system. It is clearly not flawed as 97% of those pardoned are successful in leading crime free lives in the community. Less than 1% of sex offenders pardoned, have had their pardons revoked since 1970! To me, those stats show success not failure. If we deny individuals the access to a pardon, we are severely limiting their employment prospects and with unemployment, comes the increased probability of re-offending. Do we want society to be more dangerous? Then we need to give people second chances and allow them to be pardoned!!
I fully support NOT tightening up the pardon system. It is clearly not flawed as 97% of those pardoned are successful in leading crime free lives in the community. Less than 1% of sex offenders pardoned, have had their pardons revoked since 1970! To me, those stats show success not failure. If we deny individuals the access to a pardon, we are severely limiting their employment prospects and with unemployment, comes the increased probability of re-offending. Do we want society to be more dangerous? Then we need to give people second chances and allow them to be pardoned!!
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