A Member of Parliament is advocating for stricter parole regulations

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A Member of Parliament is advocating for stricter parole regulations for multiple murderers, specifically mentioning the case involving the St. Albert couple's son. Michael Cooper, the MP for St. Albert-Edmonton, addressed the Rotary Club of St. Albert on March 14, offering insights into Bill S-281, commonly referred to as Brian's Bill. This private member's bill aims to establish stricter limitations on parole eligibility for individuals convicted of murder.

Bill S-281 proposes amending the Corrections and Conditional Release Act to ensure that parole reviews for first- or second-degree murder offenders occur at designated statutory intervals, rather than being initiated by the offender, especially after a previous denial, termination, or cancellation of parole by the parole board. At present, individuals serving life sentences can apply for parole annually if their prior applications have been rejected. Under Cooper's proposed bill, offenders would be restricted to one application every five years following a denied review. He argues that even this five-year interval is still too frequent. "It is certainly much less often than the families who have to deal with a parole hearing every year or two," Cooper stated, emphasizing the emotional toll such repeated hearings take on victims' families. The bill is named after Brian Ilesic, who was tragically murdered alongside Michelle Shegelski and Eddie Rejano by their coworker, Travis Baumgartner, during a robbery at the HUB Mall at the University of Alberta on June 15, 2012.

In 2011, the Harper government enacted a law allowing judges to impose consecutive parole ineligibility for offenders convicted of multiple murders under section 745.51 of the Criminal Code. Baumgartner became the first individual sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for 40 years under this legislation. Cooper noted that Ilesic's parents, Mike and Dianne, found some solace in knowing they would not have to face Baumgartner at a parole hearing for at least four decades. They were present at the Rotary meeting as special guests of Cooper. However, a 2022 ruling by the Supreme Court of Canada deemed this act unconstitutional, stating it violated Section 12 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in their decision on R. v. Bissonnette. "By denying offenders any potential for reintegration into society, section 745.51 undermines the core of Canadian criminal law," declared Chief Justice Richard Wagner. Cooper emphasized that certain offenders may not be capable of rehabilitation. "We've observed that some of the most serious offenders have had their sentences considerably reduced," he said. According to Parole Board of Canada statistics, as of 2021, the full parole grant rate for life-sentenced individuals averaged 45 percent over five years. "Rehabilitation is one of the principles of sentencing, but there are six principles in total. Five out of those six are focused on holding the offender accountable and considering the welfare of the victims and their families," he added. The bill successfully passed its first reading in the Senate on November 8, 2023, but has stalled since then due to the Senate's workload with other governmental and private member's bills, according to Cooper. "However, I believe this issue should continue to be advocated for. It's something I have passionately supported and will persist in championing, hoping it may eventually be introduced as a government bill," he expressed. He remains optimistic that bipartisan support for Brian's Bill can be garnered, regardless of the 2025 federal election outcomes. "I would hope that if the Conservatives come into power, this would be something we pursue. Conversely, I would also hope that if the Liberals retain their majority, they would consider advancing this initiative," he stated. -- Tristan Oram Mar 20, 2025 3:45 PM * lakelandtoday.com

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