McGill law students petition to let day-parole inmate resume classes
More than 100 McGill law students and alumni have signed a petition urging the university to allow convicted murderer Jeffrey George Ewert, who is on day parole, back onto campus for his law courses.
Jeffrey George Ewert, convicted of second-degree murder and attempted murder for attacks in British Columbia in 1984, was granted day parole in 2025 and started taking law courses at McGill University in August. After being removed from campus in early October, more than 100 law students and alumni signed a petition demanding that he be allowed to attend classes again, citing his Indigenous background and the importance of rehabilitation.
The petition acknowledges safety worries but notes that no formal misconduct finding has been made against Ewert. University officials, including Dean Tina Piper and Provost Angela Campbell, have issued statements affirming their priority on campus safety and indicating that the situation is being reviewed. Ewert’s lawyer, Nora Demnati, described the exclusion as stressful for a person she calls an example of successful rehabilitation. The debate continues among students, faculty, and the broader community.
Why it matters
The case highlights tensions between rehabilitation rights for parolees and campus safety concerns.
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