Colonel Russell Williams, Wing Commander of Canadian Forces Base Trenton, is pictured in this September 20, 2009 handout photo.HO
A Conservative bill to strip federal prisoners of their old-age pensions would not deny Col. Russell Williams his military pension.
A lawyer for Col. Williams has said the former CFB Trenton commander intends to plead guilty Monday to two murders, two sex assaults and scores of break and enters.
When asked today about Col. Williams receiving his military pension, Prime Minister Stephen Harper touted his party's legislation to deny prisoners government payouts.
However, Mr. Harper was quick to add there's a distinction between voluntary payouts - like old age pensions - and "contractual obligations the government may have."
The Prime Minister's Office says Mr. Harper's words make it clear that military pensions are contractual obligations that must be honoured, regardless of the pensioner's criminal record.
Mr. Harper, speaking in Woodbridge, Ont., at an unrelated event, also said he can't comment on Williams specifically because the case is still before the courts.
In June the Conservatives announced legislation to prevent prisoners in federal institutions from applying for old-age security and guaranteed income supplement payments.
"When someone is convicted of a crime like that they should not be receiving voluntary payments from the government of Canada, that's our position and we urge Parliament to pass that legislation," Mr. Harper said Friday.
Col. Williams was a rising star in the military before being charged in February with first-degree murder in the deaths of Jessica Lloyd, 27, and Cpl. Marie-France Comeau, 37. The charges shook the Canadian Forces to its core.
Ms. Comeau was found dead in her home in Brighton, Ont., last November while Ms. Lloyd was found in nearby Tweed.
Col. Williams, 47, faces two counts of first-degree murder, two counts each of sexual assault and unlawful confinement, and 82 counts of break and enter.
Follow live updates from the courtroom during the plea and sentencing hearing of Colonel Russell Williams. Readers using BlackBerries and iPhones can click here.