OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused the Conservatives of using the 2009 murder of Tori Stafford to “play politics” Wednesday, as opposition MPs repeatedly attacked a government decision to move one of the girl’s killers to a healing lodge.In a tense debate in the House of Commons, the Conservatives grilled the government over a decision by Correctional Services Canada to move Terri-Lynne McClintic from a prison to the Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge last December. McClintic was convicted in 2010 of first-degree murder for her role in the abduction and sexual assault of the eight-year-old Woodstock girl, and sentenced to life in prison without parole eligibility for 25 years. In December, she was transferred to the healing lodge, which is run by Correctional Services Canada and which Trudeau said is considered a medium-security facility. The government is now reviewing that decision. In what NDP MP Sheila Malcolmson described as “sickening” exploitation, several Conservative MPs read graphic details of the case into the record. After multiple rounds of questioning, Conservative justice critic Tony Clement described in detail how McClintic took part’s in Tori’s kidnapping, sexual assault and murder. “Why will (Trudeau) not use his power and authority right now to do the right thing for Tori’s family and the right thing for society?” Clement asked. Trudeau said he hoped Canadians would “pay attention to that question and this answer.” “In 2014, the individual was transferred to a medium-security facility under the previous government,” Trudeau said. “The individual is still in a medium-security facility today.” After question period, Clement took issue when a reporter pointed out there were children in the visitors’ gallery during the exchange. He called it a “double standard” that the Conservatives would face criticism for their questions a ...
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