From CTV News:

CTVNews.ca Staff

Date: Wednesday Feb. 1, 2012 1:30 PM ET

A senator known for advocating on behalf of the victims of crime was defending himself Wednesday, after his controversial suggestion that convicted murderers be given a rope to hang themselves rather than languish in jail at taxpayers' expense.

Sen. Pierre Hugues-Boisvenu made the remarks ahead of the Conservative caucus meeting in Ottawa on Wednesday.

"Basically, every murderer should have the right to a rope in his cell," Boisvenu said in French, suggesting the prisoner could then decide whether to take his own life or not.

The Conservative Senator said, while he is not generally in favour of the death penalty, it should be considered in cases where there is no hope of rehabilitating the convicted.

Opting for capital punishment over incarceration, he said referring to an estimated $10-million bill for imprisoning the three recently convicted in the Shafia family murder trial, could save taxpayers a lot of money.

Since making the remarks, Boisvenu told a French language television network he had made the ill-advised remarks in haste.

Boisvenu was appointed to the Senate by Prime Minister Stephen Harper in January 2010.

After a career in the Quebec civil service, Boisvenu rose to public prominence as an advocate for victims of crime.

He founded the Murdered or Missing Persons' Families' Association after his daughter Julie was kidnapped, raped and murdered in June, 2002. He is also the co-founder of the Le Nid centre for abused women in Val d'Or, and of a school camp for underprivileged youth in Quebec's Eastern Townships.

Prime Minister Harper said last year that, despite his personal belief the death penalty sometimes fits the crime, he had no intention of bringing it back into force.

Link:
Senator's remark sparks capital punishment controversy | CTV News