death penalty news June 3, 2004
CANADA: Tory backs death penalty Candidate says views are personal Third discrepancy for party in a week Conservative candidate Tom Jackson says he would like to see the return of the death penalty, raising an issue his party leader has tried to downplay. "I personally do support capital punishment when beyond a shadow of a doubt and when all the evidence is in and for premeditated murder," Jackson said yesterday, following a statement on crime issues. Conservative Leader Stephen Harper has said the party would not be proposing any kind of death penalty legislation. Jackson, the candidate in Hamilton Mountain and a long-serving city councillor, made it clear his views were personal. "It is not currently part of our party policy," he said. Jackson's comments came the day after Harper outlined the Conservative policy on law and order issues and pointedly said he was not proposing the death penalty. "I've made it very clear I won't be proposing any kind of death penalty legislation or any referendum on that during this election," Harper said. "This is the personal opinion of Mr. Jackson," said a Conservative party statement. "Mr. Harper has no intention of introducing legislation on capital punishment now or in the future and has no intention of seeking a referendum on it." Jackson is the third candidate in a week to contradict party policy on a hot-button issue. Scott Reid was forced to resign his post as the party's official languages critic after calling for cuts to minority-language services. Harper was forced to contradict Rob Merrifield, the party's health critic, after he said women seeking abortions should get third-party counselling. Yesterday, Harper opened the door on another controversial issue when he said he believes the Supreme Court would back off if a Parliament led by him spoke its mind on the issue of same-sex marriage. Harper, who personally favours reserving marriage for heterosexuals, has repeatedly said he would take the issue back from the high court if he becomes prime minister. The Liberals referred four questions to the court to ensure a new marriage definition that includes gays and lesbians would pass constitutional muster. A much anticipated hearing is slated for October. (source: Toronto Star / Canadian Press)
