۴ý

Politics

    • Mendicino says he's 'dealt with' internal information 'breakdown' over Bernardo transfer

    Share

    Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino could not say Thursday why he was not aware earlier about plans to transfer notorious serial rapist and convicted killer Paul Bernardo to a medium-security prison, after it was revealed his office and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's office knew for months, without informing either politician.

    Speaking to reporters amid the fallout, the minister said he’s "dealt with" the "breakdown in information flow," within his office but would not say if anyone on his team will be reprimanded as a result, or what his staff's explanation was for why he was kept in the dark in the first place.

    "It is very clear that I should have been briefed at the time, and that is something that I made abundantly clear to my staff," Mendicino said Thursday. "I've taken the corrective steps to ensure that that does not happen again."

    As it has come to light over the last two days, Mendicino's office was first informed of Bernardo's potential transfer from a maximum-security prison to a medium-security prison through what his office has described as "generic communications products" on March 2.

    This came after the minister's office was informed by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) about the possible move, requesting further information.

    Then, the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) said it sent a follow-up email to the minister's office on May 25, four days before Bernardo's May 29 transfer from Ontario to Quebec. Trudeau was informed that day, but Mendicino wasn't looped in until May 30, at which time he said he was "profoundly concerned and shocked"

    "What's important is that these issues are identified and they're corrected and so that is what I have done with my team," Mendicino said. "It is important that I get those briefings in a timely manner."

    After calling for Mendicino to resign, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said the latest revelations show "a failure of leadership at the very top."

    "We now know why the prime minister refuses to fire his incompetent and misleading public safety minister, and it is that the prime minister himself was the one who accepted the transfer," said Poilievre during question period, asking Trudeau, who was not in the chamber, to "stand on his feet and explain to victims of Paul Bernardo why he wanted to give this monster more freedom and comfort?"

    NDP MP Peter Julian called the "level of disorganization and negligence" from the Liberals "appalling."

    "After the public security minister failed to be informed of the transfer one of the most brutal criminals in Canadian history, we now know that the prime minister's office was informed three months ago. They could have used that time to ensure victims' families were warned. How does this keep happening on such serious files? Why are they showing such clear incompetence? When will they fix this?" Julian asked during question period. 

    In an effort to prevent this situation from happening again, Mendicino has said he'll be issuing a "ministerial directive" requiring CSC to reform how it handles high profile prison transfers, including requiring victims to be informed any time an inmate is transferred from maximum security to lower security facilities, and "formally and directly" notify the minister in advance.

    Mendicino's latest comments came during a sizable and heated scrum on his way out of a committee hearing on Parliament Hill. 

    He was there to testify about a separate federal information sharing breakdown that resulted in intelligence about China's targeting of Conservative MP Michael Chong not making it past the bureaucratic and ministerial staff levels, to the politicians who are in power.

    In that case too, Mendicino in an effort to change the flow of information, ordering the federal spy agency CSIS to make sure that threats against parliamentarians "receive the highest level of attention."

    During the foreign interference-focused hearing, Bloc Quebecois and Conservative MPs attempted to ask Mendicino about the Bernardo matter, but after Liberal MP Ryan Turnbull raised concerns with the chair that the inquiries were off topic, the line of questioning didn't get far.

    "There is no doubt in my mind… That the minister had the information about this transfer and had the information about all the other things pertaining to Mr. Chong... So given that... I'm going to ask the minister if he can do the one thing that I think he knows he should do… and resign right here," said Conservative MP Blaine Calkins.

    Responding to Calkins, the minister said he remains focused "on one thing and one thing only, and that is doing my job to protect the safety and security of Canadians."

    "All of this reflects the lack of transparency and the contradictions, and this is part of the issue with respect to our colleague member for Wellington-Halton Hills," said Bloc Quebecois MP Kristina Michaud.

    Bernardo, 58, was convicted in 1995 for kidnapping, raping, torturing and murdering two teenagers, 15-year-old Kristen French and 14-year-old Leslie Mahaffy, 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 designated a dangerous offender and is currently serving an indeterminate sentence with no end date. While the revival of this case has sparked a fresh wave of outrage and upset across Canada, the minister couldn’t say Thursday if there are any plans to reverse Bernardo's relocation, which is currently under review by CSC.

    IN DEPTH

    Opinion

    opinion

    opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike

    When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.

    CTVNews.ca Top Stories

    The sentencing of the man who pleaded guilty in the deadly hit-and-run in Kitsilano two years ago began on Friday.

    The two people who died in a major fire in Old Montreal on Friday were a mother and her seven-year-old daughter, sources told Noovo Info.

    Ontario Provincial Police have laid stunt charges against a driver caught speeding 75 km/h over the speed limit on Highway 417 in Ottawa's west end.

    Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard has been found not guilty of sexually assaulting a young woman in northeastern Ontario eight years ago. The former Hedley frontman had pleaded not guilty to sexual assault.

    Canada

    • Montreal police say a business in the city's Pointe-Saint-Charles neighbourhood was hit with Molotov cocktails two nights in a row.

    • Ontario Provincial Police have laid stunt charges against a driver caught speeding 75 km/h over the speed limit on Highway 417 in Ottawa's west end.

    • The sentencing of the man who pleaded guilty in the deadly hit-and-run in Kitsilano two years ago began on Friday.

    • New data shows the automated speed enforcement camera on King Edward Avenue, between Bolton Street and St. Patrick Street, issued 6,337 speeding tickets in August, the highest number of tickets issued by Ottawa's 40 photo radar cameras.

    • The two people who died in a major fire in Old Montreal on Friday were a mother and her seven-year-old daughter, sources told Noovo Info.

    World

    Politics

    Health

    Sci-Tech

    Entertainment

    Business

    Lifestyle

    • A five-seat sushi counter located inside another restaurant is the latest Vancouver eatery to receive a Michelin star.

    • What does New Westminster's təməsew̓txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre have in common with a historic 68,000-seat stadium in Beijing, an NFL stadium and the aquatics venue for the Paris Olympics? They've all been named among the world's most beautiful sports venues for 2024.

    Sports

    • According to the Canadian Women & Sport's 2022 Rally Report, 76 per cent of girls who participate in sports believe it helps build confidence and enhances their mental health. While those benefits are important for all children, the organization's CEO says, right now, girls have less access.

    Autos

    • A Pickering, Ont., student going to college to be a mechanic is shocked the engine in his two-year-old car will not be repaired under warranty after the dealership claimed he had been 'over-revving' the engine.

    • A group of classic car enthusiasts donated hundreds of blankets to nursing homes in Nova Scotia.

    Local Spotlight

    Chantal Kreviazuk is set to return to Winnipeg to mark a major milestone in her illustrious musical career.

    From the beaches of Cannes to the bustling streets of New York City, a new film by a trio of Manitoba directors has toured the international film festival circuit to much pomp and circumstance.

    A husband and wife have been on the road trip of a lifetime and have decided to stop in Saskatchewan for the winter.

    The grave of a previously unknown Canadian soldier has been identified as a man from Hayfield, Man. who fought in the First World War.

    A group of classic car enthusiasts donated hundreds of blankets to nursing homes in Nova Scotia.

    Moving into the second week of October, the eastern half of Canada can expect some brisker fall air to break down from the north

    What does New Westminster's təməsew̓txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre have in common with a historic 68,000-seat stadium in Beijing, an NFL stadium and the aquatics venue for the Paris Olympics? They've all been named among the world's most beautiful sports venues for 2024.

    The last living member of the legendary Vancouver Asahi baseball team, Kaye Kaminishi, died on Saturday, Sept. 28, surrounded by family. He was 102 years old.

    New data from Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley shows a surge in supply and drop in demand in the region's historically hot real estate market.

    • Fire crews battled a massive blaze in downtown Langley Saturday morning.

    • The man suspected of murdering another man inside a Mackenzie, B.C., home last weekend has been arrested.

    • The sentencing of the man who pleaded guilty in the deadly hit-and-run in Kitsilano two years ago began on Friday.

    • A Toronto police officer has been arrested after allegedly stealing three bottles of alcohol from a store.

    • Two pedestrians have been taken to hospital with unknown injuries after an early-morning collision in Vaughan.

    • A Toronto city councillor is calling for a public inquiry into the construction of the delayed and over-budget Eglinton Crosstown LRT.

    • An investigation is underway into what caused a vehicle rollover Saturday in the area of Plummers Road and Priddis Valley Road.

    • A pedestrian is in critical condition after being struck by a vehicle in southeast Calgary on Friday night.

    • Environment Canada has issued a frost advisory as temperatures across Ottawa and eastern Ontario are expected to dip near the freezing mark this evening.

    • New data shows the automated speed enforcement camera on King Edward Avenue, between Bolton Street and St. Patrick Street, issued 6,337 speeding tickets in August, the highest number of tickets issued by Ottawa's 40 photo radar cameras.

    • Ontario Provincial Police have laid stunt charges against a driver caught speeding 75 km/h over the speed limit on Highway 417 in Ottawa's west end.

    • The two people who died in a major fire in Old Montreal on Friday were a mother and her seven-year-old daughter, sources told Noovo Info.

    • Montreal police say they are increasing their presence across the city ahead of the one-year anniversary of the Oct. 7 start of the Israel-Hamas war.

    • Montreal police say a business in the city's Pointe-Saint-Charles neighbourhood was hit with Molotov cocktails two nights in a row.

    • Forward Arshdeep Bains hopes his final audition was good enough to earn him a spot in the Vancouver Canucks cast when the curtain opens on the NHL regular season.

    • A 79-year-old woman is dead after the vehicle she was driving crashed into an east Edmonton building late Friday afternoon.

    • Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jack Campbell has entered the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program.

    • A riding in southwest New Brunswick that for decades was a Progressive Conservative stronghold is shaping up to be a bellwether that could offer a window into the future of the Tory party, and maybe of the province.

    • A teen charged with the murder of another teen on Prince Edward Island last year has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter.

    • Friday marked the grand opening of 22 new seniors' apartments built from the ground-up on Pitt Street in Sydney Mines, N.S.

    • It’s 1998. Google was just born, and dial-up was the primary way to connect to the Internet. New sites were being developed daily on any number of topics, from recipes to shopping. David Yanciw, however, was thinking big - big things, that is.

    • Emergency crews are at the scene of a single motor vehicle collision on Highway 12 in the RM of Brokenhead, Man.

    • A new report from Doctors Manitoba is calling for major changes to the way sick notes are issued in Manitoba, saying they are a waste of time for doctors and employers.

    • Regina police are investigating after guns were fired at two homes last week, with one home being shot at on multiple occasions.

    • A wind warning has been issued for parts of southern Saskatchewan, with gusts of up to 100 kilometres per hour (km/h) possible in some areas on Saturday, Environment and Climate Change Canada says.

    • A permanent memorial at the site of the 2018 Humboldt Broncos bus crash is about to be a step closer.

    • Police have laid charges after a car crashed into the side of a Kitchener home early Friday morning.

    • Officers were called at around 11 p.m. Friday for a report of a disturbance in the area of Glasgow Street and Earl Street.

    • The K-W Symphony may have played their last concert but the musicians who made up the ensemble aren’t ready for their curtain call.

    • A permanent memorial at the site of the 2018 Humboldt Broncos bus crash is about to be a step closer.

    • The Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation hosted a virtual election forum on education Thursday evening, giving candidates in the provincial election a chance to share their thoughts and answer questions on issues teachers find most important.

    • A Saskatchewan man living in the United States has pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography after he unknowingly provided disturbing videos to an FBI agent he thought was a pedophile.

    • Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard has been found not guilty of sexually assaulting a young woman in northeastern Ontario eight years ago. The former Hedley frontman had pleaded not guilty to sexual assault.

    • As of 3:00 a.m. on Saturday, The West Region OPP Tactics and Rescue Unit (TRU), Emergency Response Team (TEAM) and OPP K9 Unit were operating in the area but have since cleared.

    • The London Knights were on home ice last night, hoping to secure their first win of the season at Budweiser Gardens against the Erie Otters.

    • Three people from Simcoe County face charges in relation to a drug trafficking investigation that police say resulted in the seizure of several weapons, drugs and thousands of dollars worth of stolen property.

    • A 62-year-old man has been charged after police received a report about an employee stealing over $60,000 worth of materials from a Huntsville business.

    • A man is facing multiple charges after reportedly threatening to harm staff members at an Orillia business Friday afternoon.

    • The first step in the plan was speaking to frontline workers and getting their feedback. "Overwhelmingly, they said they would like to see health-care services on-site," Bondy said.

    • According to police, the suspect entered and vandalized the property in the 700 block of Grand Marais Road Easton on September 28.

    • A motor vehicle collision at Wyandotte Street East and George Avenue has Windsor police on the scene this morning.

    • The leaders of both British Columbia's provincial Conservatives and New Democrats are in the Okanagan campaigning today.

    • We haven't heard the candidates talk much about education during B.C.'s 2024 election campaign, but the teachers' union is trying to put the spotlight on that issue.

    • The body of a British Columbia mountain climber has been located and recovered after the 39-year-old man was reported missing during a solo climb on Washington state's Mount Baker earlier this week.

    • The leaders of both British Columbia's provincial Conservatives and New Democrats are in the Okanagan campaigning today.

    • Three young suspects have been arrested in connection with a swarming attack on a teenager in B.C.'s Okanagan last week – and authorities have asked the public to stop circulating disturbing videos of the incident.

    • A father in Kelowna is furious after his 13-year-old daughter was brutally beaten on Gyro Beach. He is calling for criminal charges in the devastating attack, which was caught on video by multiple bystanders.

    • A person was airlifted to hospital following a serious crash in Taber, Alta., on Friday morning. Taber RCMP responded to the scene on Highway 864 around 10:30 a.m., for a crash involving an SUV and a semi-truck.

    • To enhance inclusivity at Lethbridge Polytechnic, the institution has launched a new accessibility micro-credential.

    • WestJet has changed its operations at the Lethbridge Airport, and it means there's now only a single daily flight from Lethbridge to Calgary, down from three flights a day, as offered previously.

    • Two teens, ages 14 and 19, have been charged with arson in connection with a July 14 fire in Cat Lake First Nation that destroyed $500,000 in construction materials.

    • A northeastern Ontario jury has started deliberating in Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard's sexual assault trial, we can now tell you what they weren't allowed to hear.

    • A suspect who accused Thunder Bay police of being responsible for his throat injury actually hurt himself when he swallowed a large amount of drugs.

    N.L.

    Stay Connected
    Follow ۴ý