Mr. Chair, it's an honour to be here before this committee as the seconder of Bill C-236, known as McCann's law, which was introduced by a friend of mine, the member for Parkland. I want to commend the member, Mr. Lloyd, for his tireless, years-long advocacy for this proposed common-sense change to the law.
On July 3, 2010, Lyle and Marie McCann, an elderly couple from my home community of St. Albert, Alberta, set out on a road trip to British Columbia. Two days later, their motorhome was found on fire near Edson, Alberta. Lyle and Marie McCann had been murdered. Their murderer was convicted and is serving a life sentence.
Sixteen years later, the bodies of Lyle and Marie McCann have never been found. The murderer has callously refused to disclose the whereabouts of their remains, and disgustingly, he has taunted the McCann family. For 16 long years, Lyle and Marie McCann have been denied the dignity of a proper burial, and their family and friends have been left to wonder about their final resting place. They have been denied any sense of closure that comes with knowing.
I want to recognize the McCann family, including Lyle and Marie McCann's son, Bret McCann, whom I have gotten to know since I became the member of Parliament for St. Albert. He has shown courage, strength and determination to see justice done for his parents and for other victims. McCann's law seeks to remedy a gap in our justice system. As it stands, offenders can actively withhold the whereabouts of their victims' remains, weaponizing that silence to inflict ongoing psychological trauma on grieving families and denying them closure without consequence at sentencing or parole. The member of Parliament for Parkland has said in the past that withholding this information is tantamount to “an ongoing crime” without consequence.
In the case of the McCanns' murderer, despite being handed a life sentence, he is eligible to apply for parole and did apply for parole just last year. He can apply for parole without the Parole Board's being required to give any consideration to the fact that he refuses to disclose the whereabouts of Lyle and Marie McCann. That is wrong. That is unjust. That is where McCann's law comes in: It establishes a targeted, measured and common-sense framework for accountability.
First, at the sentencing phase, McCann's law would ensure that when an offender refuses to disclose the location of a victim's remains, it would be treated as a relevant factor. Judges would have the discretion to treat such a refusal as an aggravating factor. Additionally, it introduces a statutory mechanism whereby judges would have the discretion to order a longer parole ineligibility period.
At the parole phase, McCann's law amends the Corrections and Conditional Release Act to ensure that the ongoing refusal to disclose would be treated as a relevant factor in assessing an offender's suitability for parole and gives the parole board the discretion to deny parole on account of such a refusal.
I want to emphasize that McCann's law is carefully tailored. It would only apply post conviction, after a judge has decided an offender's guilt beyond reasonable doubt, and it would be entirely discretionary. It would be entirely left to the discretion of judges and parole authorities. McCann's law is consistent with established sentencing principles, including denunciation, deterrence and promoting a sense of responsibility in offenders.
I would add that consideration of an offender's refusal to disclose the location of the victim's remains is highly relevant and material to assessing an offender's suitability for parole, including having regard for their lack of rehabilitation and lack of remorse.
In short, McCann's law is targeted and measured. It promotes basic dignity. It promotes accountability on the part of offenders and, above all, it seeks to see that justice is done for the victims and their loved ones.
Simply put, McCann's law is common sense. I urge this committee to support it, and I welcome questions from members.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.