Evidence of meeting #48 for Public Safety and National Security in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was c-16.
A video is available from Parliament.
Victim Rights Advocate, As an Individual
He was paroled last year on the eve of my father's murder. He's fully paroled.
Liberal
Liberal
Liberal
Marcus Powlowski Liberal Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON
Mr. Arnold or Mr. Carrie, my understanding is that these sections you want enacted were previously included in the government bill, but in order for them to come into effect, you need an order in council.
Why did this happen? I would have thought that this would be addressed in the drafting. Was this an error? What happened?
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies, BC
I can't answer that. It was a government decision to include section 205 in Bill C-16. Other parts of Bill C-16 have been enacted, but for some reason, the portions of Bill C-221 were specifically set aside to be brought into force through an order in council. It's not at a specific date, or it's at a date and time after the bill receives royal assent, so there is no timeline for when those measures may be brought into force.
Liberal
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies, BC
It was in June, just before this Parliament recessed for the summer.
Liberal
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies, BC
This was Bill C-16 of this Parliament. That's correct.
September 23rd, 2026 / 5:15 p.m.
Liberal
Marcus Powlowski Liberal Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON
Okay.
Ms. Freeman, this is probably a question for you. The way it currently works, if there's a parole hearing and the victim's family is there.... My understanding is that if the victim's family goes to the actual meeting, the Parole Board will give some sort of reasoning as to why the person was granted parole. Is this true?
Victim Rights Advocate, As an Individual
Yes. They will explain, at the end of the hearing, their reasoning behind it. There's no opportunity, of course, to appeal anything, but they will give what's almost like a checklist of things offenders have improved on that seem to get them granted parole.
Liberal
Marcus Powlowski Liberal Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON
Does the parole board also listen to the victim's family or the victims themselves?
Victim Rights Advocate, As an Individual
We have an opportunity to read a victim impact statement. If you don't want to attend in person, you can submit it to the file.
Liberal
Marcus Powlowski Liberal Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON
Are victims or victims' families automatically notified when there's a parole hearing, or is there some sort of process that you have to go through in order to be notified?
Victim Rights Advocate, As an Individual
They're notified.
I've been through the system for a long time, and as the offender was incarcerated past his 25-year period, there is something called an in-office paper decision. On three occasions, I've had letters sent to me saying there's going to be an in-office paper decision on full parole sometime in the month of December—using the last one—and I would say, “What do you mean? There's no hearing. I don't know the date.” I've had to plead for a hearing that I can attend in person to deliver my impact statement, but usually...for those examples, there's no date.
Liberal
Marcus Powlowski Liberal Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON
Were you given the hearing and the opportunity to give a victim impact assessment?
Victim Rights Advocate, As an Individual
I was, after multiple letters and getting my MP and the ombudsman for victims of crime behind me multiple times to demand, for no better word, a hearing that I could be present at, especially for something as significant as full parole.
Liberal
Marcus Powlowski Liberal Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON
Do you know if there's any written or legislative process to determine whether there's a written decision or whether there's actually a hearing?
Victim Rights Advocate, As an Individual
I know it's in the Corrections and Conditional Release Act that for any offender who has been incarcerated past their 25 years, it can be an automatic paper decision for full parole.
Liberal
Marcus Powlowski Liberal Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON
It would seem a little odd, given that anybody who has been in prison for 25 years must have done something pretty serious.
Victim Rights Advocate, As an Individual
Yes.
Just to continue on with something I was thinking about before all of this, the Parole Board of Canada says it has a trauma-based approach to victims of crime, and I disagree.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Jean-Yves Duclos
Thank you, MP Powlowski.
Next is MP Caputo for five minutes, please.