Anne Kelly, Commissioner of the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC), issued the following statement on the review of inmate Paul Bernardo's transfer from Millhaven Institution (maximum) to La Macaza Institution (medium) on May 29, 2023:
"First, I want to acknowledge the victims and their loved ones. We contacted all of the registered victims prior to this announcement, and I spoke directly to those wishing to be walked through the findings. What they have gone through is unimaginable. Public safety, and their safety, continues to be top of mind for us in any decisions we make. Hearing about this case so intensely over the past weeks has brought up strong emotions, and rightly so. I regret any pain and concern this transfer has caused.
There is no doubt that Paul Bernardo committed horrific and unspeakable crimes - crimes that continue to have an immeasurable impact on the victims and their families. We want justice to be served and incarceration is part of that punishment. I can assure you that we are doing our job by keeping him in a secure institution - and have been for close to 30 years and counting.
In Canada, our correctional system is fundamentally based on the rehabilitation of offenders, even if some remain incarcerated for the rest of their lives. This is our legislated mandate. We are constantly balancing many factors, including public safety risks, safe, secure and humane treatment, and victim rights. And we must get that balance right.
After the transfer, I heard a wide array of views on this decision and felt it was important to order an additional review to make sure that the decisions to reclassify and transfer Bernardo were appropriate, evidence-based, and appropriately considered victims. I struck a review committee, including external representation to ensure this decision was compliant with the law, policies and procedures that guide our work.
The review committee concluded that the decisions to reclassify Paul Bernardo to medium and transfer him to La Macaza were sound, and followed all applicable laws and policies. I want to be clear that, at any point, an inmate can be returned to a higher security level, if deemed necessary, to ensure the safety of the public or our institutions.
