For Immediate Release
February 6, 2008

Conservatives Refuse to Stand Up Against the Death Penalty

OTTAWA –The Conservatives must justify to Canadians their decision to vote against a motion calling on the government to stand up against the death penalty, Liberal MPJudy Sgro said today.

“Quite frankly, the fact that this motion is even necessary is downright disturbing to most Canadians,” said Ms. Sgro after the vote. “The minority Conservative government is sending a clear message that you can’t count on the government to help you if you are sentenced to death in another country.”

The Conservatives today voted against Ms. Sgro’s Private Member’s Motion, M-411, which called on the Government to reaffirm that: (a) there is no death penalty in Canada; (b) it is the policy of the government to seek clemency, on humanitarian grounds, for Canadians sentenced to death in foreign countries; and (c) Canada will continue its leadership role in promoting the abolition of the death penalty internationally.

Ms. Sgro put the motion forward after, last year, the minority Conservatives changed the Government’s position without debate in Parliament and announced that they would no longer seek clemency for Canadians sentenced to death by foreign countries.

Ms. Sgro also expressed serious concern that despite the Harper government’s claims that they have no intention of reintroducing the death penalty in Canada, many current cabinet ministers, including Justice Minister Rob Nicholson, Defence Minister Peter MacKay, and Minister of Public Safety Stockwell Day, have spoken publicly about their support for the death penalty.

Ms. Sgro noted that the Conservative government’s refusal to support this motion is particularly alarming, given the Prime Minister’s careful wording when he said that the death penalty and the issue of abortion "are not issues for the first Conservative government.” (Ottawa Citizen, June 2, 2004)

“The Liberal Party opposes the death penalty, at home and abroad, and we won’t stand by quietly and watch this minority Conservative government reverse years of Canadian leadership on this issue,” said Ms. Sgro.

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Contact:
Office of Hon. Judy Sgro
(613) 992-7774