Bernardo to stay put in medium-security prison as Correctional Service Canada defends transfer

OTTAWA — The decision to transfer serial killer and rapist Paul Bernardo to a medium-security prison was sound, the Correctional Service of Canada announced Thursday, with its commissioner underlining his new lodgings does not make him any less of a "psychopath."

Commissioner Anne Kelly faced reporters for the first time since the controversy erupted in early June after news became public of Bernardo's transfer from Millhaven Institution, a maximum-security penitentiary in Ontario, to La Macaza Institution, which is about 190 kilometres northwest of Montreal.

She was presenting the findings from a review she launched following public outcry over the decision. Backlash had also echoed through Parliament Hill and the legislature in Ontario, the province where Bernardo committed his crimes.

Bernardo is serving an indeterminate life sentence for the kidnapping, torture and murders of 15-year-old Kristen French and 14-year-old Leslie Mahaffy in the early 1990s near St. Catharines, Ont.

He has admitted to sexually assaulting 14 other women and was convicted of manslaughter in the death of Tammy Homolka, who died after being drugged and sexually assaulted.

Tammy’s sister Karla Homolka, who was married to Bernardo at the time, was released in 2005 after completing a 12-year sentence for her role in the crimes committed against French and Mahaffy.

"The fact that he is at a medium-security institution does not negate the fact that he is a psychopath, and that he committed horrific and unspeakable crimes," Kelly said.

The review into the correctional service's decision concluded its reclassification of Bernardo's security risk was "sound." It noted concerns, however, when it came to how it notified the French and Mahaffy families of his move, which happened the day he was transferred on May 29.

The committee struck to review the matter "recognized that news of the transfer, including the nature of notification caused emotional distress for victims."

Letting them know earlier "could have reduced the shock impact of notification on the day of the transfer, as well as allowed time and opportunity for victims to become informed of the implications of a transfer to a medium-security environment," the report says.

Kelly pledged Thursday that the correctional service will strike another committee with the goal of improving its existing policy around notifying victims.

Also on Thursday, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino issued a statement confirming he gave the correctional service a directive to implement new steps to better ensure victims are considered when an inmate is transferred.

"Politicians do not determine prison terms in this country," he said. "We must respect the independence of our correctional system — notwithstanding the fact that many Canadians are very disappointed and may even disagree with the outcome of this review."

In a statement, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he could not imagine how victims' families are feeling "as they struggle with this incomprehensible decision."

"This low-life should remain in maximum security for the rest of his miserable existence," the statement said.

Kelly herself acknowledged how many Canadians would likely be upset at its conclusion, following weeks of searching for answers about why it happened in the firs place.

That's why she said she made the "exceptional" move to authorized the release of personal information, which is allowed under the federal Privacy Act if it determined by he head of an institution that the public interest "clearly outweighs" an individual's right to privacy.

"I believe it is in the public interest to have a better understanding of the reasons why this specific decision was made," said Kelly.

The review found that Bernardo's security classification was reviewed 14 times between 1999 and 2022, and each time he met the criteria to be moved to a medium-security institution.

The review report says these results had previously been "overridden" because his high-profile status placed him at a greater safety risk, and most of his interactions with other offenders in maximum-security prison were extremely restricted and controlled.

Bernardo applied to be moved to the medium-security Bath Institution in June 2022, according to the document, but a security review found he met the bar for transfer was "overridden" because of his failure to integrate with other inmates.

Bernardo then went on to work with senior officials at Millhaven to develop an integration plan, the review says, and was "fully integrated" within that prison by July 2022.

He then successfully applied to be moved to the La Macaza Institution in Quebec. That facility offers treatment for sex offenders.

From last July until the transfer in May, "there were no documented incidents or behavioural concerns" reported by staff, the review says.

"Staff at Millhaven Institution reiterated that the ongoing impediment to the offender's reclassification to medium was his failure to integrate; thus, upon, integration, there were no longer grounds to warrant a maximum security classification."

Kelly defended her decision not to release such detailed information about what led to Bernardo's transfer until Thursday, saying the service did release some specific information as more questions rolled in.

"I think that we have more to do in terms of sharing with the public — not when there's a crisis — but sharing with the public the important work that we do in protecting society," she said.

Kelly also defended her decision not to personally raise the issue of Bernardo's transfer directly with Mendicino, despite them having several meeting to discuss broader policy issues.

She said the commissioner does not discuss operational decisions undertaken by the prison system, including security classifications, with the minister.

Mendicino has faced calls from the Conservatives to resign over his handling of the issue. He confirmed he only learned about the transfer until the day after it happened, despite his staff being notified in the months before.

The directive he issued on Thursday included instructions to ensure the public safety minister is notified regarding the security classification and transfers of high-profile offenders "whose offences elicited or have a potential to elicit significant public interest."

Kelly reiterated that the Canadian correctional system is fundamentally based on the rehabilitation of offenders.

"Hearing about this case so intensely over the past several weeks has brought up strong emotions and rightly so," she said, adding the crimes "continue to have an immeasurable impact on the victims and their families."

"We want justice to be served," she said. "We want Canadians to have confidence in our decisions."

Speaking to reporters at an unrelated event in Kingston, Ont., on Thursday morning, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said there are lessons to be learned around Bernardo's transfer and his government believes in prioritizing victims.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 20, 2023.