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The political fallout from Paul Bernardo's prison transfer

The decision to move serial murderer and rapist Paul Bernardo from a maximum security prison to a medium security institution is sparking a debate about Canada’s penal system and when it's appropriate for politicians to intervene.
Convicted killer and serial rapist Paul Bernardo in a courtroom sketch from 2018.
Paul Bernardo is shown in this courtroom sketch during Ontario court proceedings via video link in Napanee, Ont., on October 5, 2018. Despite being denied parole twice, Correctional Service of Canada confirmed that Bernardo was transferred from a maximum security facility in Ontario to a medium security prison in Quebec. (Greg Banning/The Canadian Press)

To the frustration and hurt of the families of Paul Bernardo's victims, the notorious rapist and murderer has been moved from a maximum security prison to a medium security one. 

Conservatives are calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to intervene and move Bernardo back to a maximum security facility. They also want Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino to resign over how his office handled information about the transfer. 

Ashley Burke is a senior reporter at the CBC's Parliamentary Bureau. She's been looking into how the Liberals handled Bernardo's move and the controversy that has followed.

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