Federal Heritage Minister James Moore and Conservative Senator Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu, reacting to the pending release of a former Quebec doctor who killed his two children, said they are poised to table a new bill to protect victims in cases involving people found not criminally responsible due to mental illnesses.
The announcement comes the day after Guy Turcotte, who was found not criminally responsible for the stabbing deaths of his children in 2009, was granted conditional release from Montreal's Pinel Institute.
Isabelle Gaston, Turcotte's former wife, said she was nervous about his pending release and feared he could come after her.
Moore said Turcotte's release would be "unacceptable." He said the new law would aim to better protect victims in similar cases.
"We believe that Isabelle Gaston does not deserve to live in fear of her children's killer and neither do victims of similar crimes across Canada," said Moore.
Turcotte is set to be released Thursday from the Montreal psychiatric Pinel Institute, where he has been held since last year.
On Wednesday, the Mental Health Assessment Commission found that Turcotte, a former cardiologist, had made enough progress to be released.
He was already allowed out of the institution several times a week on day passes.
Turcotte admitted to killing Olivier, 5, and Anne-Sophie, 3, but had denied intent. In 2011, a jury found him not criminally responsible for the stabbing deaths.
Former cardiologist must stay away from ex-wife
Isabelle Gaston said she is concerned for her safety despite conditions imposed on her ex-husband.
"I'm nervous," said said. "There's no policeman that will follow him every day. You know, courtrooms are sometimes full of people that broke their conditions, so I'm just hoping that he's sincere in what he says
