Opposition Tories Planning Motion on Policy Change

Monday, 1 October 2018 11:40

The opposition Tories will be bringing forward a motion that will aim to change the policies that allowed convicted child killer Terri Lynne McClintic to live in an Aboriginal Healing Lodge.

WOODSTOCK - The Opposition Conservatives are asking the Prime Minister to change the rules that allowed a convicted child killer to be moved to an Aboriginal Healing Lodge.

Local MP Dave MacKenzie says they weren't even aware Terri Lynne McClintic was transferred to the healing lodge until reading a Facebook post from Rodney Stafford and then the subsequent article in the London Free Press. He says the Oxford County community is livid right now and he has heard from several constituents.

"I was out this weekend talking with people, you don't have to ask the question, they will approach you about it. I was at the Open House for the new Woodstock Police Station addition, I had a conservation with Chief Renton who was the officer in charge of the Tori Stafford investigation. People are angry and rightfully so, they don't like to be reminded of the incident but it wasn't there fault that this happened and they want to see it corrected. I have been making phone calls back to people all morning and they are just angry about the whole situation."

Last week Conservative leader Andrew Scheer pushed the Liberal Government to change the policy that allowed McClintic to be transferred to the healing lodge. McClintic has only served 10 years of her 25 year sentence and is not eligible for parole yet. The official who is responsible for reviewing the transfer of Stafford's killer from a medium security prison to the healing lodge says she is comfortable with the decision. Anne Kelly says the agency will perform an in depth review of the file that was requested by Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale. She did say she was comfortable with the move and that they have a rigorous case management process.

MacKenzie says he was floored by those comments.

"I did hear what the Commissioner said and I'm appalled by it because how do you go from where that woman was just a few short years ago and still has sometime like 13 years to go before she can be released on parole, so where do they put her next, it is just appalling. If healing lodges were used for their intent, I don't think they would be used for the intent to put McClintic in that healing lodge."

MacKenzie says they have an opposition motion this week and all day they will be discussing that. Andrew Scheer plans to bring forward the motion on Tuesday to remove McClintic from the healing lodge.