Senator Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu makes a statement following Minister of Justice Rob Nicholson's announcement regarding an amendment to the Youth Criminal Justice Act to strengthen its handling of repeat young offenders in Ottawa on Tuesday, March 16, 2010.
A man who says he once attempted suicide has filed a police complaint against a Tory senator who suggested murderers be provided rope so they can hang themselves in prison.
Quebecer Jacques McBrearty said Friday he has sought legal action against Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu because he believes the senator's words might encourage suicide.
Inciting suicide is an offence under the Criminal Code.
Mr. McBrearty told The Canadian Press in an interview from Saguenay, Que., that Mr. Boisvenu went too far and his remarks don't belong in a modern-day Parliament.
"I don't think these comments have any place in Quebec or Canada in the 21st century," Mr. McBrearty said.
Mr. Boisvenu initially apologized, calling his comments inappropriate. A day later, he appeared to backtrack, noting that his office had been inundated with between 500 and 600 messages of support.
Now, after trying to snuff out the issue, Mr. Boisvenu's fellow Conservatives are rallying around the Quebec senator. Veterans Affairs Minister Steven Blaney said it was wrong to attack Mr. Boisvenu, given the tragedies that have befallen his family.
"It is a lack of compassion for the father of a victim of a heinous act. We all know what happened to the senator's daughter," Mr. Blaney said. Julie Boisvenu, 27, was kidnapped, raped and murdered in 2002. Another daughter, Isabelle, died in a car accident in 2005.
After Julie's murder, Mr. Boisvenu became an outspoken victims' rights advocate. He was appointed as a senator by Prime Minister Stephen Harper two years ago.
Mr. McBrearty said in his former role as the head of a victims' family-support group, Mr. Boisvenu had every right to let emotions dictate his responses. But he said he has different responsibilities now, as a parliamentarian and as a justice spokesperson for the government.
"If he thinks vengeance and justice are the same thing, I think he should just resign and live his own life," Mr. McBrearty said.
Mr. McBrearty, 26, said he suffered from depression and that he attempted suicide in 2010, so he has first-hand experience dealing with the issue.
Mr. McBrearty called Mr. Boisvenu's comments outrageous and said the power of words is often underestimated — particularly on those who are already fragile.
Quebec provincial police will investigate the complaint and hand over the file to Crown prosecutors, who will ultimately decide whether charges should be laid.
Mr. McBrearty said he filed a complaint Thursday but a police spokesperson said Friday from Saguenay that she couldn't comment on any aspect of the case. For his part, Mr. McBrearty said he has done his part, and will allow the authorities to consider his complaint.
Mr. Boisvenu told reporters on Parliament Hill the death penalty should be considered in certain cases when there was no hope of rehabilitation. He also suggested a cheaper, easier solution for controlling prison costs.
"Basically, every killer should (have) the right to his own rope in his cell," Mr. Boisvenu said. "They can decide whether to live."
Mr. Boisvenu insisted, however, that he disagrees with regular use of the death penalty. Canada abolished capital punishment in 1976 and the last executions were in 1962.
The senator's comments follow several high-profile prison suicides in Quebec, in which hanging was the suspected cause.