Father of Tori Stafford says daughter’s killer transferred to medium security prison

Rodney Stafford says his daughter Victoria’s killer Michael Rafferty has been transferred from a maximum-security prison to a medium-security penitentiary.

Stafford says he learned Monday that the transfer happened in March.

Rafferty was sentenced to life in prison in 2012 in the kidnapping, sexual assault and first-degree murder of Tori Stafford.

In an emotional Facebook post, Stafford wrote that over the past three months Correctional Service of Canada and the federal government have been hiding that both people responsible for taking his daughter’s life have been “working their way to luxury.”

Earlier this year, Terri-Lynne McClintic, who was also sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of the first-degree murder Tori, was transferred to an Indigenous healing lodge. Stafford says there are still several questions left unanswered about that decision.

He urged the Liberal government to reverse her transfer and months later, he said she was moved out of the Saskatchewan healing lodge and into a medium security institution for women.

During question period, PC opposition house leader Candice Bergen asked public safety minister Ralph Goodale if Rafferty is “behind bars where he belongs or is he in a cushy healing lodge?”

Minister Goodale responded saying the decision about McClintic was taken by the previous government. Regarding Rafferty, he did not have a clear answer.

“I will examine the facts of this case to ensure that all the rules and procedures have been followed and that Canadians are safe,” he said.