Globe and Mail: By throwing away the key, we lose hope in justice

The Globe and Mail published an op-ed written by Debra Parkes, Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies at the University of Manitoba Faculty of Law and Isabel Grant, professor at the University of British Columbia Faculty of Law.

Parkes and Grant wrote:

Justin Bourque was sentenced Friday to life imprisonment with three consecutive 25-year parole ineligibility periods. This means that the man who killed three RCMP officers in a Moncton shooting spree in June will be eligible for parole in 75 years at the age of 99.

We do not dispute that he committed horrific crimes that demand our societal condemnation. We are deeply concerned, however, that today’s unprecedented sentence will have an impact on sentencing for murder generally and may violate constitutional guarantees against cruel and unusual punishment. We disagree with the position of Mr. Bourque’s lawyer that there are no Charter of Rights issues here.

Read the full op-ed published November 2, 2014.