• First-degree murder is a mandatory life sentence with no eligibility of parole for 25 years.

• Second-degree murder is a mandatory life sentence with no eligibility of parole until serving 10 to 25 years. The judge decides the number of years at the time of sentencing.

• Manslaughter can be any term deemed appropriate by the judge – anywhere from some number of months to life.

Although the offender may get a “life sentence” and be “a lifer,” this does not mean that he or she will be in prison for his or her entire life. At some point the person will be eligible to apply for full parole. However, the offender will be under some type of supervision – either in prison or on parole – until his or her death.

Mennonite Central Committee Canada. (2011). Getting through the maze: A guidebook for survivors of homicide.