Summary#
This bill changes how parole reviews happen for people convicted of first- or second-degree murder. After the Parole Board refuses, cancels, or ends parole, these individuals could no longer apply for another review. Instead, the next review would occur on the schedule already set in law. The bill amends the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (CCRA) to add this rule for both day parole and full parole.
- Stops offender-initiated applications for day parole after a refusal, cancellation, or termination for murder cases (new CCRA s.122(4.1)).
- Stops offender-initiated applications for full parole after a refusal, cancellation, or termination for murder cases (new CCRA s.123(6.1)).
- Keeps parole reviews on the statutory timetable, rather than on offender application, once parole is refused or ended (Bill summary; amends CCRA ss.122–123).
- Does not change parole eligibility dates or the legal criteria for granting parole (amendments add only “no application” clauses).
What it means for you#
- Households and victims
- If you are a registered victim in a murder case, you would face fewer offender-initiated parole hearings between scheduled reviews. Reviews would follow the timetable set in the CCRA once parole is refused or ended (new CCRA ss.122(4.1), 123(6.1)).
- Incarcerated individuals (first- or second-degree murder under Criminal Code s.231)
- After the Board refuses, cancels, or terminates your day or full parole, you could not file another application. Your next review would occur at the statutory time set in the Act or by the Board under the Act (new CCRA ss.122(4.1), 123(6.1)).
- Your initial parole eligibility date and the standards the Board uses do not change under this bill (amends CCRA ss.122–123 only).
- Legal counsel and advocates
- You would no longer be able to seek earlier reconsideration by filing new day or full parole applications after a refusal or termination in murder cases. You would need to prepare for the next review on the statutory schedule (new CCRA ss.122(4.1), 123(6.1)).
- Parole Board of Canada
- You would conduct subsequent reviews for these cases on the statutory timetable without processing new offender applications between scheduled reviews (amends CCRA ss.122–123).
- Timing
- The bill contains no special coming-into-force clause. If enacted, it would take effect on Royal Assent (standard practice; bill text shows only amendments to CCRA ss.122–123).
Expenses#
Estimated net cost: Data unavailable.
- No explicit appropriations or fees in the bill text.
- No official fiscal note located. Data unavailable.
- Operational impacts on the Parole Board or corrections (e.g., hearing volumes, staffing) are not quantified. Data unavailable.
Proponents' View#
- Reduces repeated hearings after a denial for serious offenses, since offenders cannot reapply between statutory reviews (new CCRA ss.122(4.1), 123(6.1)).
- Lowers burden on victims who attend hearings by making the schedule predictable and less frequent than offender-driven applications (amends CCRA ss.122–123; bill summary).
- Focuses Board time and resources on scheduled reviews set by law, rather than processing new applications soon after a refusal (amends CCRA ss.122–123).
- Maintains existing eligibility rules and criteria; only the ability to reapply is limited, which preserves the current public-safety test (amends CCRA ss.122–123).
Opponents' View#
- Limits case-by-case flexibility. Someone who makes rapid progress would be unable to seek an earlier review that could have led to earlier release (new CCRA ss.122(4.1), 123(6.1)).
- May lengthen time in custody in some cases if, before, early reapplications sometimes succeeded; the bill removes that pathway (assumes some approvals occurred via reapplication; not quantified).
- Could reduce incentives for sustained good conduct if early review is not possible after a denial or termination (assumption; not quantified).
- Narrows procedural access for a specific group (murder convictions) and could raise fairness concerns, even though statutory reviews still occur (amends CCRA ss.122–123; scope limited to Criminal Code s.231 offenses).