(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The recent proposal to modify the rules regarding criminal pardons is supported by a large proportion of Canadians, according to a poll by Angus Reid Public Opinion. 81 per cent of respondents agree with the bill recently introduced by Canadian public safety minister Vic Toews.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The recent proposal to modify the rules regarding criminal pardons is supported by a large proportion of Canadians, according to a poll by Angus Reid Public Opinion. 81 per cent of respondents agree with the bill recently introduced by Canadian public safety minister Vic Toews.
The bill proposes that sex offenders who have abused children and people convicted of more than three serious crimes should not be able to get a government pardon. With a pardon, offenders can apply to have their criminal record removed after serving their sentence.
On May 11, Toews introduced the legislation, saying, "As all of you are aware, the pardon of convicted sex offender Graham James was deeply offensive to Canadians, to victims and to our government. It demonstrated the need to take action to prevent such an outrage from happening again and to ensure our system of justice is not brought into disrepute."
James—a hockey coach—pleaded guilty in 1997 to sexual assault and was sentenced to three and a half years in prison. He was issued a pardon in 2007.
Polling Data
As you may know, Public Safety Minister Vic Toews introduced a bill in Parliament proposing that sex offenders who have abused children and people convicted of more than three serious crimes should not be able to get a government pardon. With a pardon, offenders can apply to have their criminal record removed after serving their sentence. Overall, do you agree or disagree with the proposed bill?
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Agree
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81%
|
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Disagree
|
15%
|
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Not sure
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4%
|
Source: Angus Reid Public Opinion
Methodology: Online interviews with 1,013 Canadian adults, conducted from May 14 to May 16, 2010. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.
