Terri-Lynne McClintic has been moved from her healing lodge with full amenities back to prison, the Stafford family says.
She was moved to medium security prison Wednesday night to the Edmonton Institute for Women.
McClintic is serving a first-degree murder sentence for the 2009 killing of Victoria Stafford. She was transferred to a healing lodge only eight years into her sentence. Recently, the government voted in favour of McClintic remaining at the healing lodge.
This sparked outrage and Tori Stafford supporters came to the front line to protest. Dozens packed Parliament Hill in Ottawa and outside the Woodstock courthouse. They demanded Terri-Lynne be put back into maximum security prison.
Although McClintic is only being placed into medium security prison, protester Dianne Dowling who attended the Ottawa rally is ecstatic to hear the news.
“Are we all happy that she’s been transferred out of the healing lodge? Absolutely, yes. It’s a relief but it’s bittersweet.”
Dowling believes her voice among others and a countrywide effort of support behind the Stafford family helped make the transfer a reality.
“All of us standing together, I believe is what made the big difference. We chanted, we screamed, we all had sore throats, and we wore purple. There definitely was an impact there.”
The protest for many, was not just for Tori. It was for changing the prison sentencing laws and making the future safer for all children.
“This wasn’t just for Tori. There are many other children that unfortunately get abducted, kidnapped, tortured, raped and murdered. Everyone needs to stand for all children and fight for them all,” said Dowling.
Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale ordered Canada’s prison system to tighten the laws around transfer policies. Goodale has told and instructed Corrections Canada to improve policies related to transfers of women offenders to facilities that do not have a controlled perimeter.
“These changes will help ensure the public’s confidence that our correctional system is holding guilty parties accountable for breaking the law,” Goodale said in a statement.
For Tori’s Dad Rodney, he is on cloud nine with the news. He posted a Facebook post moments after he heard the news.
Terr-Lynne McClintic will not get a parole hearing until 2031. Protesters and the Stafford family are calling it a major win not only for Tori, but future generations of children.
