Thank you, Chair.
Actually, the motion put forward does state this: “in light of the transfer of sadistic killer Luka Magnotta out of a maximum security prison to a medium-security prison, the same facility that serial killer and rapist Paul Bernardo was transferred to last year”. Absolutely, this includes Bernardo, and it's important that we talk about that.
To go back to my point, I am here in regard to the amendment, which I think is critical. It's great to hear that Mr. Bittle is going to be supportive of this, as this directly impacts the people of his riding, who have written directly to him. I'm going to read into the record some of the comments that have been stated.
This comes from Laura, Marcia and Tennille, who were the best friends of Kristen French, whose life was taken. I asked for their response to the CBC article saying that the public safety minister's office was notified seven times. They gave me permission to read this to the committee:
Hi Michelle,
Once again we are saddened and disappointed that the Government of Canada has added to the continued emotional trauma and victimization of the many people who have been affected by this man and his brutal crimes. To know that so much communication took place about the transfer and yet no one deemed it important enough to ensure that the minister was addressed personally speaks yet again to the disregard of victims in our Criminal Justice System.
This has to change. Victims should and must come first.
Thank you for your continued effort in this.
Laura, Marcia, and Tennille
Now, the bigger question has come up here today of where this all fits in terms of operations and who the commissioner of Corrections Canada reports to—