URGENT: ACTION NEEDED NOW re BILL C-13

As per my earlier post, the Commons Justice Committee voted yesterday to amend Bill C-13 to expand the retroactivity provisions of the DNA Databank to include those serving sentences for 1 murder and 1 sexual offence and 1 manslaughter conviction. At the meeting, Conservative Justice Critic Vic Toews suggested the retroactivity provisions be separated from Bill C-13 so it can be passed quickly. Mr. Toews’ suggestion had the support of the NDP and the Bloc.

It is very important that the retroactive provisions of the bill are passed before an election because there are several offenders who will be released in the near future or who are eligible to seek released. Karla Homolka is probably the most urgent example, but there are others.

Ralph Power is currently eligible for day parole. In 1981, he beat my sister, Sheryl Gardner to death with a hammer in Toronto. He was arrested after a failed attack on a second victim and he had a list of 15 women he was intending to sexually assault. David Dobson is also eligible for day parole. In 1982, Dobson murdered 15-year-old Darlene Prioriello. He sexually assaulted her, tortured her and murdered her by dropping a cinder block on her head. Greg Bromby is eligible for full parole this month. In 1994, Bromby murdered 15-year-old Tara Manning. He is currently serving a life sentence for second-degree murder. It was a result of Mike Manning’s efforts that the House of Commons passed the DNA search warrant law in one day. Needless to say, the list goes on…

Please email the Minister of Justice at webadmin@justice.gc.ca and Cotler.I@parl.gc.ca to communicate your support for fast-tracking the retroactivity provisions of Bill C-13.