The federal government will table legislation Tuesday that will deny pardons to some of the most violent offenders, including murderers and some sex offenders, CTV News has learned.
"The proposed law would deny pardons to anyone who has been convicted of sexual acts against minors," CTV News' Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife reported Monday night. "Murderers will also be ineligible, as will repeat violent offenders."
The new law, to be tabled by Public Safety Minister Vic Toews, would put an end to what the government considers a "rubber stamp" for pardon applications.
The vast majority of convicts who apply for a pardon are granted one. Last year, only 800 of 40,000 pardon applications were rejected.
The rule changes follow a public outcry after news broke that the National Parole Board granted a pardon to convicted sex offender Graham James, a former junior hockey coach, back in 2007. James was convicted of sexual assault against two teen hockey players, one of whom was Sheldon Kennedy, who went on to play in the National Hockey League.
At a victims' rights conference last month, Prime Minister Stephen Harper noted that sex killer Karla Homolka would be eligible to apply for a pardon this year and said any system that grants pardons to 99 per cent of applicants must be changed.
Harper added that it was "offensive" James was able to get a pardon for his crimes.
"Even though he ruined the lives of boys who just wanted to play hockey, he can travel without having to admit his criminal record," Harper said. "That, too, is offensive."
A pardon does not erase a person's criminal record, but can make it easier for someone to get a job and travel abroad. In the case of sex offenders, a flag remains on the pardoned person's file, serving as an alert to community groups and employers should they seek work with children or other vulnerable people.
All but a small segment of criminals, such as dangerous offenders and those serving life sentences, are eligible to apply for a pardon.
Convicts must wait either three or five years after a sentence has been served, depending on the severity of the crime. In weighing applications from people convicted of serious offences, the parole board is obliged to ensure the person has not re-offended and has displayed "good conduct."
