Canada Bars Restoration of Death Penalty
Opponents of capital punishment scored a stunning victory in the House of Commons today, rejecting the proposed return of the death penalty by a 21-vote margin.
“It’s an excellent day for Canada and an excellent day for parliamentary democracy,” a beaming Prime Minister Brian Mulroney said.
“The question is settled. It was a clear and vigorous debate. I think the result is conclusive.”
Moments earlier, in a 1:20 a.m. vote capping the eighth and final day of debate, jubilant winners showered the House with shredded paper and leaped to their feet applauding as Commons clerks announced the 148-127 verdict.
The margin of the victory surprised even the winning side.
“I thought we’d win by four,” said Warren Allmand, the Liberal who sponsored the bill that abolished the death penalty in 1976.
Justice Minister Ray Hnatyshyn, who voted against restoring the death penalty in a Cabinet poll, said that when debate began in April, those favoring capital punishment seemed to have the upper hand.
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