St. Catharines Council Votes for Bernardo Review

The motion calls for Corrections Canada, and the Public Safety minister, to review the decision to move the killer

Corrections Canada will soon hear from St. Catharines city council concerning the transfer of killer Paul Bernardo to a medium security prison.

He had been serving time in a maximum prison for the murders of Kristen French and Leslie Mahaffy in the early 90s in St. Catharines, before Corrections Canada recently moved him to the Quebec medium security prison.

Councillors Jackie Lindal and Kevin Townsend put forth a motion at last night's meeting calling for the government and Corrections Canada to review the decision.

Councillor Lindal recalled Leslie Mahaffy had spent the day at a friend's funeral service, before attempting to make it home that night.  Kristen French was walking home from school, but never made it.  "And now Correction Services of Canada, following a scale of risk factors, which is just data, is transferring her murderer, who has been declared a dangerous offender, a designation reserved for Canada's most violent criminals and sexual predators, to an open concept campus."

Councillor Robin McPherson asked that Jane Doe of Niagara Falls, another rape victim, be included. 

Mayor Mat Siscoe pointed out some have asked why the city bothers to intervene.   He added this motion will go to every MP nationwide and MPP in Ontario, to show what this means to the community.

"I sincerely hope that the federal government, which has the power to make a change in this situation, hears this message loudly and clearly... I know local MPs have been making this case on Parliament Hill as well," he says.

The mayor noted every effort was made not to mention the killer's name in the motion, except once.