The Supreme Court of Canada rules that consecutive life sentences without a chance at parole goes against the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, May 27, 2022 (Photo: The Canadian Press)

By Drew Stremick with files from The Canadian Press

Supreme Court of Canada strikes down life without parole ruling

May 27, 2022 | 2:37 PM

OTTAWA, ON – The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled against the punishment of life without parole for mass murderers. The decision was announced today, Friday, May 27, 2022, and made retroactive to the time it was enacted in 2011.

In the ruling, Chief Justice Richard Wagner wrote that the court determined unanimously that life in prison without parole was cruel and unusual, and therefore illegal under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The decision from Canada’s highest court came from the case of Alexandre Bissonette, who in 2017, killed six people at a Quebec City mosque. Bissonette will now be eligible for full parole after his first life sentence, which equates to 25 year in prison.

Sentencing law for multiple killers immediately reverts to what it was in 2011, before the Conservative government led by Stephen Harper authorized judges to be able to apply multiple life sentences together, one for each person who was killed.

Hon. Michelle Rempel Garner, Member of Parliament for Calgary Nose Hill, says today’s decision contradicts other decisions made across the country.

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“Today’s ruling is also in contradiction to a decision made last year by Alberta’s highest court,” said Garner. “The Alberta Court of Appeals ruled there should be no ‘volume discount’ for heinous multiple murders. I agree with this principle.”

Garner is urging her fellow MP’s in Ottawa to take action to ensure sentencing focuses on punishment and not rehabilitation when it comes to mass murderers.

“I call upon Parliament to correct this injustice. All options should be considered, including changing the criminal code to ensure sentencing focuses on punishment as opposed to rehabilitation in the case of mass murderers, or the potential use of the notwithstanding clause,” said Garner. “Throwing our hands up and saying we can’t do anything in light of this ruling should not be an option. The Prime Minister, the Government of Canada and Parliament has a duty first and foremost to stand with victims of these atrocious crimes.”

Along with Bissonette, 18 other individuals, including three in Alberta will now be eligible for parole after they serve 25-years in prison.

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