Mr. Speaker, section 745, the faint hope clause, is alive and well in Ottawa. Brett Morgan was convicted of murdering Louise Ellis. He also killed an Edmonton woman and is a suspect in another murder. An Ottawa judge recently sentenced him to life with no opportunity for parole for 25 years.
Yesterday I had lunch with Susan Ashley whose 16 year old sister, Linda Bright, was murdered by Donald Armstrong 16 years ago. Like Morgan, Armstrong is believed to have killed before. Like Morgan, Armstrong was sentenced to life with no chance of parole for 25 years.
Linda Bright's family was shocked and angered when Armstrong applied under section 745. I expect Louis Ellis' family will also be shocked.
It is time for the government either to scrap section 745 or be honest with Canadians by admitting it believes that murderers should serve no more than 15 years before being eligible to apply for parole.
We all know what our Canadian police have been saying in our offices this week: “Scrap section 745”.