Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino鈥檚 office said Wednesday evening that it first learned of the potential transfer of Paul Bernardo this March, but specifics of the transfer had not been confirmed at the time and the minister wasn鈥檛 personally aware of the transfer until months later.
Mendicino and his office have come under scrutiny in recent days over the handling of the case, which has sparked outrage across Canada and reopened old wounds for the families of victims who have also seen their perpetrators transferred to lower-security facilities in recent years.
In a statement to 麻豆影视, Audrey Champoux, press secretary and senior communications advisor in Mendicino鈥檚 office, said the office first learned of the potential transfer of Bernardo, a notorious serial rapist and killer, through 鈥済eneric communications products鈥� on March 2.
Champoux said this came after the minister鈥檚 office received a request from the prime minister鈥檚 office discussing the potential transfer and requesting further information.
鈥淎t this point, specifics of the transfer had not been confirmed. Staff examined possible options for potentially changing the independent decision over the subsequent period, and were informed there weren鈥檛 any,鈥� she said in a statement to 麻豆影视 Wednesday evening.
Champoux said Mendicino was personally informed of on May 30, the day after Bernardo was actually transferred by the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC).
鈥淗e immediately requested to speak to the (CSC commissioner), and a meeting was arranged at the earliest possible opportunity,鈥� she added.
鈥淭hroughout this period, the authority to make or change the decision rested solely with CSC.鈥�
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau鈥檚 office also confirmed Wednesday that the prime minister was briefed on the transfer on May 29 鈥� but his staff was in the loop earlier 鈥� .
The handling of the case also drew criticism from the Official Opposition, which called on Mendicino to resign over the handling of the case on Wednesday morning. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre accused Medicino of 鈥渓ying鈥� to Canadians about when he was made aware of Bernardo鈥檚 transfer and said that if the minister doesn鈥檛 step aside or take action to fire those responsible in his office, then Trudeau should 鈥渇ire him.鈥�
Mendicino defended himself in the House of Commons and put out a statement Wednesday indicating that changes are ahead, including requiring the CSC to inform victims any time an inmate is transferred from maximum security to lower security facilities and to 鈥渇ormally and directly鈥� notify the minister in advance.
In a statement to 麻豆影视, the CSC acknowledged that continued public attention of this case must be 鈥渧ery difficult鈥� for the victims of Bernardo and their families and expressed regret for 鈥渁ny pain or concern this transfer has caused.鈥�
The federal agency said that by policy,when an offender is being transferred to a medium-security institution, its victim services unit notifies victims as soon as the transfer has been completed.
鈥淚n this instance, however, victims were notified first thing the day of the transfer (at 9:00 a.m.) and provided with additional information immediately after the transfer,鈥� the statement reads.
鈥淭his was done both verbally and in writing, and notification included all information victims are entitled to under the Correctional and Conditional Release Act, which includes the security level, location, and a summary of the reasons for transfer.鈥�
The CSC said it also explained the differences between medium and maximum-security institutions, provided registered victims with a 鈥渃orrectional plan progress report鈥� for Bernardo and a CSC commissioner spoke directly with one of the victims 鈥渁t their request鈥� and answered their questions.
鈥淧lease note, one of the considerations for not providing sooner notifications was the safety and security of the staff who had to conduct the transfer given it was publicly known that the offender was located at Millhaven Institution,鈥� the government agency added.
Bernardo, 58, was convicted in 1995 for kidnapping, raping, torturing and murdering two teenagers 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.
With files from CTVNews.ca鈥檚 Senior Digital Parliamentary Reporter Rachel Aiello and CTV National News鈥� Parliamentary Bureau Reporter Annie Bergeron-Oliver
