Paul Bernardo prison transfer ‘inexplicable,’ says public safety minister, as Doug Ford calls for Corrections boss to quit or be fired

Canada's prison system has some explaining to do over its incomprehensible" decision to move schoolgirl killer and rapist Paul Bernardo to a medium-security prison in Quebec, says Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino.

His comments in Ottawa on Tuesday came as Premier Doug Ford called for Corrections Commissioner Anne Kelly to quit or be fired.

There's very strong consensus that the decision to transfer Mr. Bernardo to a medium-security institution is incomprehensible, it's inexplicable, and that was precisely why I took the opportunity to have a very frank discussion with Commissioner Kelly," Mendicino told reporters a day after meeting with her.

There does need to be an accounting," added the minister, who did not comment on Ford's remarks.

Amping up his rhetoric by calling Bernardo a scumbag" who should rot in hell," the premier said Bernardo's transfer has shattered public trust.

I'm going to quote the correctional services commissioner - We want Canadians to have confidence in our decisions.' Well, commissioner, I'll tell you, no Canadians have confidence in your decisions," Ford thundered in the legislature.

You should step aside, step down or be fired."

Bernardo is serving a life sentence for the kidnappings, torture and killings of Leslie Mahaffy, 14, and Kristen French, 15, near St. Catharines in the early 1990s.

The furor over his transfer to La Macaza Institution in the Laurentians from the Millhaven maximum-security penitentiary near Kingston has prompted Correctional Service Canada to review the move.

This is a decision that was taken operationally, independent from the elected government," Mendicino stressed. My expectation is that she (Kelly) will be getting back to me in the very short term ... a couple of weeks."

All Canadians - but particularly the French and Mahaffy families - are entitled to an explanation, he added.

What needs to be underlined is that victims' rights are taken into proper account ... I'm not satisfied that from what I have seen in this decision that victims' rights were properly weighed into the mix."

In a statement Monday, the Correctional Service said Kelly has ordered an additional review of this offender's security classification to ensure it was appropriate, evidence-based, and more importantly, adequately considered victims."

We are restricted by the law in what we can divulge about an offender's case," the statement noted.

Mendicino said he is open to changes.

If there are issues with regard to policies, with regards to the principles, even with regards to legislation, I'm going to leave all of those options on the table," he said.

After luring them into his car, Bernardo held French and Mahaffy prisoner in his Port Dalhousie home with the help of Karla Homolka, then his fiancee and later his wife. The girls were raped and murdered there. Bernardo was also convicted of manslaughter in the rape and drugging death of Homolka's younger sister Tammy, 15. He also admitted to being the Scarborough Rapist of at least 14 young women in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

A lawyer who has long represented the French and Mahaffy families told the Star's Rosie DiManno the transfer doesn't make any sense" because Bernardo has been designated a dangerous offender.

The parole board has said he's just as dangerous now as he ever was," Tim Danson said.

Ford said the controversy brings back pain for the slain schoolgirls' families.

Our heart breaks for you," he said.

Referring to the one hour a day Bernardo was let out of his cell in Millhaven, alone and under the watchful eye of guards to protect him from other prisoners, Ford said, I'd go one step further. That one hour he's out, he should be in the general population. That's what should happen to this SOB."

Correctional Service Canada said Bernardo, who has been imprisoned since 1993, continues to serve an indefinite life sentence, is closely monitored and is in a prison with the same perimeter controls as a maximum security penitentiary. That includes high fences, armed guards and controlled movement of inmates.

At any point, an inmate can be placed, or returned to, a higher security level if deemed necessary to ensure the safety of the public," the corrections statement added. Pending the (Bernardo) review, we will not hesitate to do so, if needed."

Rob Ferguson is a Toronto-based reporter covering Ontario politics for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @robferguson1

Stephanie Levitz is an Ottawa-based reporter covering federal politics for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @StephanieLevitz