The Manitoba government blasted the feds Friday for Vince Li’s new-found freedom.

It follows outrage from a Manitoba Conservative MP who said the province’s inaction is an insult to law-abiding Manitobans.

Li, 46, was found not criminally responsible for stabbing and beheading Tim McLean aboard a Greyhound bus in July 2008.

McLean’s mother said she’s shaken by Li being allowed unescorted visits into Selkirk.

“Deeply saddened, very concerned, worried, disappointed, ashamed,” said Carol de Delley.

She said anyone who committed so brutal an act should not be given an unescorted pass into a community.

The federal government said the safety of citizens should be paramount.

“The decision by the Manitoba government not to object to any of the recommendations to grant Vince Li additional freedom including unescorted trips into Selkirk is actually an insult," said Shelly Glover, Conservative MP and Manitoba's senior federal cabinet minister.

Friday afternoon, the provincial NDP government fired back, putting the onus on the Conservative federal government.

“Shelly Glover could easily go down the hallway and talk to her colleague in the cabinet and have the law changed as we’ve recommended,” said Dave Chomiak, NDP provincial cabinet minister.

He said Manitoba sent two letters to the federal government asking for changes to Canada’s Criminal Code.

Advocates for mental health urge the public to have confidence in the system and said the rate of people found not criminally responsible who violently reoffend is very low.

“There's no evidence to support the idea that if someone committed an act - particularly atrocious - that they have a likelihood of recommitting that act,” said Nicole Chammartin from the Canadian Mental Health Association.

The association said research shows those who come out of the federal prison system are more likely to be involved again in the criminal justice system, rather than those found not criminally responsible.

Li will receive a high level of monitoring, but for McLean's mother, it's not enough.

"If you are medication-dependent and there is no way (to ensure you’re taking) that medication, you don't belong free in society,” she said.

- with a report from Beth Macdonell and files from The Canadian Press