Outrage at Tories stance on the death penalty
Jan 21, 2008
Stark Raven Media Collective

Back in November, the Tories reversed Canada's long-standing policy of seeking clemency for those sentenced to death in other countries.

The content of most of the letters was discovered through an access to information request. Letter writers detail how they are "horrified," "shocked" and "ashamed" by the government's new stand. They also express outrage that there was no public debate on the issue.

The change in policy toward Canadians on death row came to light when the government stopped advocating for Ronald Allen Smith. Smith is the only Canadian facing execution in the United States. He has since launched a legal challenge of the new policy.

Tories no longer support Canadians on death row in other countries
Nov 12, 2007
Stark Raven Media Collective

The government will no longer be advocating for Canadians on death row in other countries.

The new policy came to light when the Tories announced that aren’t going to continue asking the Americans to hand over Ronald Allen Smith. Smith is the only Canadian on death row in the US.

For years, it's been standard practice for Canada to lobby foreign governments to show mercy to its citizens when they face the death penalty. Ottawa would ask that their sentence be reduced to life in prison or request that the prisoner serve their term in a Canadian penitentiary. But that policy has now officially changed.

Stockwell Day, the Minister of Public Safety, told the parliament last week that "We will not actively pursue bringing back to Canada murderers who have been tried in a democratic country that supports the rule of law. It would send a wrong message. We want to preserve public safety here in Canada."

The move is being blasted by some Opposition MPs as a government endorsement of capital punishment. They say it is an indication that if the conservatives win a majority they will reopen the debate on capital punishment. Some were left wondering whether the Tories plan on changing the extradition law as well. Canadian law prevents the extradition of an American to a state that uses capital punishment.

In Canada, a 1967 bill placed a moratorium on the death penalty, except in cases involving the murder of a law-enforcement officer. A bill to officially ban the death penalty passed in a free vote in 1976.