April 26, 1996 For Immediate Release
VICTIMS' BILL OF RIGHTS ESSENTIAL FIRST STEP TO MAKE VICTIMS' RIGHTS TOP PRIORITY
"Liberals put funding for special interest groups and big corporations ahead of victims' rights."
Yorkton - Garry Breitkreuz, MP for Yorkton-Melville, has been a outspoken advocate for "Victims' Rights" since he arrived in Ottawa. In March of 1994, in the House of Commons, Breitkreuz outlined his 10 point plan to improve victims' rights. On November 22, 1995, Breitkreuz introduced a motion and led the Reform debate demanding the government change the name of Prisoners' Week to Victims' Rights Week. Breitkreuz has also been working with Parliamentary lawyers to draft a Victims' Rights bill. "As usual the Liberal government has their priorities all backwards," said Breitkreuz. The government places more priority on protecting the rights of criminals and prisoners than they do on protecting the rights of victims."
On Monday, April 29th, Reform MP Randy White will introduce the Reform Party's Motion calling on the government to proceed with drafting a "Victims' Bill of Rights". "I think the purpose of a Victims' Bill of Rights is to put all the rights that victims should be entitled to in one document. Victims can't get proper compensation for their pain and suffering because the Liberals think it's more important to hand out billions of dollars to special interest groups, big corporations and to fund bilingualism, multiculturalism and employment equity programs that most people in Canada oppose."
"So far, the response from our Minister of Injustice is to say the Liberals support victim's rights, but the sad fact is (just like their promise on the GST) they never do what they say. Despite Allan Rock's assurances, victims are still not entitled to appear as witnesses in early parole hearings for first degree murderers under Section 745 of the Criminal Code. Another example of misplaced priorities was when the federal government recently paid a jailed murderer $12,000 for injuries he suffered during a prison hostage taking incident, while at the same time his victims go uncompensated for their tragic loss."
"Murderers like Paul Bernardo and Clifford Olson can still appeal for early release after serving just 15 years of the 25 year sentence which everyone thought meant no chance of parole. The laws old-line political parties write are just as hypocritical as the politicians who vote for them in the House of Commons," criticised Breitkreuz.
"If we don't change the system, we won't change much else. Reformers offer Canadians the only hope for changing the system. Reform is the only political party campaigning for a "Victims' Bill of Rights". For the sake of all the victims in Canada, I hope the Liberals don't wait until the next election to listen to Canadian voters," appealed Breitkreuz.
For your copy of the "Victims' Bill of Rights" Motion please call:
Ottawa: (613) 992-4394