Mendicino says he's 'dealt with' internal information 'breakdown' over Bernardo transfer
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
Jagmeet Singh pulls NDP out of deal with Trudeau Liberals, takes aim at Poilievre Conservatives
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has pulled his party out of the supply-and-confidence agreement that had been helping keep Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's minority Liberals in power.
'Not the result we wanted': Trudeau responds after surprise Conservative byelection win in Liberal stronghold
Conservative candidate Don Stewart winning the closely-watched Toronto-St. Paul's federal byelection, and delivering a stunning upset to Justin Trudeau's candidate Leslie Church in the long-time Liberal riding, has sent political shockwaves through both parties.
'We will go with the majority': Liberals slammed by opposition over proposal to delay next election
The federal Liberal government learned Friday it might have to retreat on a proposal within its electoral reform legislation to delay the next vote by one week, after all opposition parties came out to say they can't support it.
Budget 2024 prioritizes housing while taxing highest earners, deficit projected at $39.8B
In an effort to level the playing field for young people, in the 2024 federal budget, the government is targeting Canada's highest earners with new taxes in order to help offset billions in new spending to enhance the country's housing supply and social supports.
'One of the greatest': Former prime minister Brian Mulroney commemorated at state funeral
Prominent Canadians, political leaders, and family members remembered former prime minister and Progressive Conservative titan Brian Mulroney as an ambitious and compassionate nation-builder at his state funeral on Saturday.
Opinion
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
opinion Don Martin: The doctor Trudeau dumped has a prescription for better health care
Political columnist Don Martin sat down with former federal health minister Jane Philpott, who's on a crusade to help fix Canada's broken health care system, and who declined to take any shots at the prime minister who dumped her from caucus.
opinion Don Martin: Trudeau's seeking shelter from the housing storm he helped create
While Justin Trudeau's recent housing announcements are generally drawing praise from experts, political columnist Don Martin argues there shouldn’t be any standing ovations for a prime minister who helped caused the problem in the first place.
opinion Don Martin: Poilievre has the field to himself as he races across the country to big crowds
It came to pass on Thursday evening that the confidentially predictable failure of the Official Opposition non-confidence motion went down with 204 Liberal, BQ and NDP nays to 116 Conservative yeas. But forcing Canada into a federal election campaign was never the point.
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.
Storm brewing in Gulf of Mexico could intensify into a hurricane, threatening Florida
A storm system brewing in the Gulf of Mexico is expected to reach tropical storm status later Saturday, with forecasters warning it could intensify into a hurricane headed to Florida next week.
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.
Frequent drinking of fizzy beverages and fruit juice are linked to an increased risk of stroke: research
New data raises questions about the drinks people consume and the potential risks associated with them, according to researchers at Galway University in Ireland, in partnership with Hamilton’s McMaster University.
America votes: How the election could impact the Canada-U.S. border
While America's southern border remains a hot button issue on the campaign trail, the result of the U.S. election in November could also impact the northern frontier with Canada, which remains the longest undefended border in the world.
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 Menendez brothers case is not the only one that's been affected by a true crime documentary
Being an armchair detective has turned into an American obsession, fueled by an abundance of true-crime content in podcasts and television series. But some of those projects have sparked actual legal developments.
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.
Keanu Reeves spins out at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in pro auto racing debut
Hollywood star Keanu Reeves made his professional auto racing debut on Saturday in an event in which 'The Matrix' star spun out at famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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.