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Boisvenu suggested victims fought to be part of a justice system that for years left them and their emotions out and that staying away from parole hearings to avoid the stress isn’t really an option. The bill, he said, is about “fairness” and “respect for families.”

Rosenfeldt said victims have a hard time coming to terms with the fact these killers are tried only on the most serious of their crimes — murder — and that sex assault and abduction are “viewed as freebies.” Taking these other crimes into account at sentencing, she said, is crucial.

“This will give judges the discretion needed to sentence appropriately by using the parole ineligibility process to ensure that the offender is held accountable for all the serious crimes they have committed,” she said.

“As the mother of a child who was abducted, raped and murdered, trust me: I know there are three crimes committed against my child … Our family had to come to terms with how he suffered during the three crimes, not one crime.”

“It’s taken years for victims to try to get the message out that we are not these angry, vengeful people,” Rosenfeldt said. “However, there is victimization whether you want to accept it or not. There is an aftermath to crime.”

NDP justice critic Francoise Boivin argued the bill wouldn’t survive a Charter challenge and that the Tories were once again, bringing in legislation “by the backdoor” without the intense scrutiny afforded to government bills.Liberal foreign affairs critic Bob Rae also complained about the government’s habit of interfering in the business of private members. Not only are private member’s bills limited to just two hours of debate and “little discussion,” he said, they’re also not intended to be another means of promoting the government’s agenda.