Poilievre will restore consecutive life sentences for mass murderers using notwithstanding clause

OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre renewed his promise to use the Constitution’s notwithstanding clause to restore consecutive life sentences for mass murderers. Poilievre said on Monday that the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down a Harper-era law that allowed consecutive life sentences would let “Canada’s most notorious killers… walk free early.” “The worst mass murderers should never be allowed back on our streets. For them, a life sentence should mean what it says: a life sentence. They should only come out in a box,” said Poilievre, at a press conference in Montreal on Monday morning. “I’m hear today to defend the Charters of Rights and Freedoms, particularly for law-abiding Canadians and victims of crime,” said Poilievre. “By allowing repeat murderers back out on the street, Liberals are violating the rights of law-abiding people to live in peace and security.” Poilievre said he would only use the Constitution’s notwithstanding clause for criminal justice legislation, in response to a question from a reporter. More to come. National Post Get more deep-dive National Post political coverage and analysis in your inbox with the Political Hack newsletter, where Ottawa bureau chief Stuart Thomson and political analyst Tasha Kheiriddin get at what’s really going on behind the scenes on Parliament Hill every Wednesday and Friday, exclusively for subscribers. Sign up here. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.