Chatham-Kent-Essex MP Dave Van Kesteren. (Photo by Maureen Revait)Chatham-Kent-Essex MP Dave Van Kesteren. (Photo by Maureen Revait)
Chatham

Fewer Benefits For Murderers

Chatham-Kent-Essex MP Dave Van Kesteren is making sure convicted killers don't financially profit from their crime.

Van Kesteren's private member's bill, that stops people convicted of murdering their spouse or parent from receiving their victim's CPP benefits, is now law in Canada.

The Conservative MP says it's a relief to see it passed before the summer break.

"Private members bills, at the end of session, if they don't get through, they die on the order paper," says Van Kesteren, adding the bill had unanimous support in the House of Commons. "The issue was whether we would run out of time and whether the senate, for whatever reason, would stall the bill and that didn't happen -- they passed it and as such, it became the law of the land."

Van Kesteren says he has plans for other bills but with an election coming up this fall he wouldn't release any details.

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