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Saskatchewan mass stabbing sparks law to suspend benefits for offenders at large

Saskatchewan Minister of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Christine Tell speaks to members of media after the speech from the throne at the Saskatchewan Legislature in Regina, on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022. Saskatchewan says it wants to suspend government benefits to violent offenders who have warrants out for their arrest.
Saskatchewan Minister of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Christine Tell speaks to members of media after the speech from the throne at the Saskatchewan Legislature in Regina, on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022. Saskatchewan says it wants to suspend government benefits to violent offenders who have warrants out for their arrest. Photo by Heywood Yu /The Canadian Press

REGINA — Saskatchewan says it wants to suspend government benefits to violent offenders who have warrants out for their arrest.

The Saskatchewan Party government introduced legislation today that would cut off people’s provincial benefits if they have an active warrant for any Criminal Code offence.

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The bill is in response to the mass stabbings in September on James Smith Cree Nation and in the nearby village of Weldon, Sask., where 11 people died and 18 others were injured.

The suspect, Myles Sanderson, had a warrant out for his arrest at the time of the killings.

Public Safety Minister Christine Tell said Sanderson was also receiving financial assistance from the province.

“That sparked the discussion of how many? Is this common?” Tell said Thursday.

“When you are in violation of the law of this country, and you’re out there and being funded by taxpayers of this province, (that’s) insane.”

There are 1,300 active warrants for serious, prolific offenders in Saskatchewan, Tell said.

“(Sanderson) is one example,” she said. “I am certain there are going to be (other) individuals who are on government assistance of some sort.”

The proposed bill will allow government agencies to share information about violent offenders who are at large. For example, the Ministry of Social Services can provide an address to police, who are responsible for executing warrants.

The government said the bill will only apply to serious offenders. Social services will have discretion about who the law will apply to, while making considerations on compassionate grounds. Pregnant women and youth could be excluded.

“Each one will be considered on its own merits,” Tell said.

She also noted that if an offender who is at large has their benefits suspended, it will not affect the assistance their family receives.

The government said the law is expected to come into force next year.

Existing legislation in British Columbia and Manitoba similarly restricts benefits for offenders with outstanding warrants.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 1, 2022.