For Immediate Release
Oct. 11, 2005

McGuinty Sacrificing Safety for Savings, Charges Barrett

Queen’s Park –  MPP Toby Barrett joined PC Critic for Community Safety and Correctional Services, Garfield Dunlop, in asking the McGuinty Liberals to speak up about the plan to shirk the responsibilities of the Ontario Parole and Earned Release Board by passing them on to the National Parole Board in Ottawa.

“It is unacceptable for the McGuinty government to sacrifice public safety for the sake of saving dollars,” Barrett stated.  “When it comes to offenders and upholding justice, it is imperative that we maintain the highest standards in the name of safety.”

McGuinty’s secret Parole Board deal was formulated under the façade of saving money.  However, in reality transferring responsibilities to the National Parole board will end up costing more, with their members receiving $600/day while Ontario Parole Board members receive only a fraction of that at $135/day.

According to Ministry staff, approximately 50 percent of offenders who appear before the National Parole Board are released, in comparison to the 14-15 percent of offenders released after hearings held by the provincial board. 

“Money aside, the McGuinty Liberals are proving their incompetence yet again by putting the safety of all Ontarians at risk with this transfer,” Dunlop claimed.  “Public safety is much too important to be compromised by Liberal mismanagement.”

“We can’t afford mistakes when we are dealing with the safety of Ontario,” said Barrett in support of Dunlop pointing out the past blunders of the National Parole Board, where lives were lost at the hands of repeat offenders after their release.  “The cost is way too high,” says Barrett.  “Let’s put lives before dollars.”

 
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