Greens call for clear opposition to death penalty

OTTAWA – The Green Party is calling on the Harper government to demonstrate leadership and its commitment to Canadian values by reversing its policy to not seek clemency for Canadians sentenced to death in democratic countries.

Ronald Smith – the only Canadian on death row in the United States – was sentenced to death 25 years ago for the murder of two men from Montana. The Conservative government has not sought to have Mr. Smith’s sentence commuted or have him returned to Canada. It was revealed last week that Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer told Canadian officials in February of 2007 that he was prepared to consider commuting Mr. Smith’s death sentence if Canada could guarantee he would be kept in prison for at least five years.

“Ensuring the safety and security of the Canadian people is a primary responsibility of our government. However, genuine security comes about through a commitment to the fundamental right to life and the rule of law that protects this right,” said Green Party leader Elizabeth May. “From John Humphrey’s involvement in the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to Louise Arbour’s work as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Canada has had a strong history of human rights protection and advocacy around the world. It is time for the Conservative government to demonstrate clear and principled leadership by ensuring that this tradition is not tarnished. It is time to ensure that Canadians are not put to death in other countries.”

Canada abolished the death penalty over 30 years ago and has maintained that it is a form of cruel and unusual punishment that is contrary to the principles of fundamental justice. Until the present Conservative government, Canadian governments have constantly upheld the principle that Canadians sentenced to death in other countries should be returned to Canada to serve their time in prison.

“It is imperative that the Harper government seek clemency for Canadians sentenced to death in foreign countries – regardless of the political traditions within those countries,” said Justice Critic Jared Giesbrecht. “Canada must remain opposed to the death penalty and demonstrate strong international leadership in this opposition. On principle, the government of Canada should seek the commutation of all Canadian citizens facing the death penalty.”

Canada formally committed at the international level to the unconditional abolition of the death penalty when it signed the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in November 2005. Canada has historically co-sponsored resolutions against the death penalty before the UN Commission on Human Rights but recently failed to co-sponsor a resolution before the UN General Assembly which called for a global moratorium on the use of the death penalty.

“Canada does not extradite American citizens if they are to face the death penalty and also refuses to deport refugees to their country of origin if they risk facing the death penalty,” noted Jared Giesbrecht. “Why would we now refuse to intervene to protect a Canadian citizen sentenced to death in an American state and effectively reinstate capital punishment for Canadians?”