Serial killer Paul Bernardo has another parole hearing scheduled for next Tuesday, but the Parole Board of Canada is not permitting victims’ families to be present.

Family lawyer Ted Danson, who represents the families, told the CBC that his clients have been denied attending Bernardo’s hearing at La Macaza Institution in Quebec because the Board was “unable to ensure the safety and security of all attendees”.

Danson has sent a letter to the Board arguing that the families have a right to confront Bernardo and give victim impact statements in-person.

He has asked that the Nov. 26 hearing be adjourned to another date so they and their lawyers can travel to Quebec where Bernardo is serving his time and read their victim impact statements to him.

In 1995, Bernardo, of Scarborough, was convicted of first-degree murder in the sex slayings of schoolgirls Leslie Mahaffy of Burlington and Kristen French of St. Catharines.

A jury also found him guilty of seven other charges, including kidnapping and sexual assault.

Bernardo was also convicted of manslaughter in the 1990 rape and death of his then-wife Karla Homolka’s sister Tammy, who was 15 years old.

In May of last year Bernardo was moved from the maximum-security Millhaven Institution near Kingston to La Macaza, a medium-security prison nearly 200 kilometres northwest of Montreal.

The moved caused outrage and upset across the nation as it was seemingly done without properly informing family members and the public.

The Correctional Service Canada later concluded the proper procedures were adhered to but admitted that the victims’ families should have been better informed.

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