Canada Takes 1st Step for Debate on Restoring Capital Punishment After 11 Years

The government of Canada, where Parliament narrowly voted to outlaw capital punishment 11 years ago, took the first step Friday in a long-promised debate on reinstating the death penalty.

Deputy Prime Minister Don Mazankowski introduced a motion in Parliament supporting capital punishment and calling for the creation of a special committee to hold public hearings on the issue across the nation.

His announcement brought to an end months of growing pressure from backbenchers of the governing Progressive Conservative Party, who were eager to get the debate under way.

Recent public opinion polls suggest about 78% of Canadians support a return of the death penalty, slightly below the pro-capital punishment figure of 1976, when hanging was officially abolished by a majority of six votes in the House of Commons under the Liberal Party government of that day.

‘Matter of Importance’

“This issue is a matter of national importance and one that a majority of Canadians want Parliament to consider,” Mazankowski told the House.

He added that members will be free to vote on the issue according to their consciences rather than adhering to party lines as is normally the case.

The first vote cannot come until next month at the earliest and is unlikely until later in the year. If it is affirmative, a parliamentary committee will be named to travel across the country and draft legislation that would then be returned to the Commons for a second vote.

The revival of the issue in Parliament was promised by Prime Minister Brian Mulroney during the 1984 election campaign that brought the Progressive Conservatives to power.

If most of the 282 members of Parliament choose to speak on the issue, as the government anticipates, the initial debate could last several months.

Personal Opposition

Mulroney and the two opposition party leaders personally oppose restoration of the death penalty. Mazankowski said that introduction of the motion in no way indicates official government support but rather fulfills the Conservatives’ 1984 commitment.

External Affairs Minister Joe Clark told reporters he believes capital punishment is not effective as a deterrent.

“But I have also believed for a long time it was important Parliament have the right to be heard on this question,” he said.

The last time anyone was hanged in Canada was in 1962. All subsequent death sentences were commuted by successive governments.

The maximum penalty for a first-degree murder conviction at present is life imprisonment with no chance of parole for 25 years.