The brother of a Toronto police officer, who was tragically murdered while on duty, is advocating for significant changes to Canada’s parole system as he prepares for the third parole hearing of his brother's killer, Clinton Gayle, in the last seven years. Constable Todd Baylis, aged 25, lost his life in the summer of 1994 during a patrol in North York, and another officer was seriously injured in the incident.
Clinton Gayle was convicted of first-degree murder and attempted murder for the shooting and is currently serving two concurrent life sentences in a British Columbia prison. Cory Baylis, Todd's brother, vividly recalls the circumstances of the murder, stating, “He walked up to my brother who was defenseless on the ground, injured, gun in holster, put the gun to his head and pulled the trigger.” Decades after the incident, Cory admits that the grief surrounding his brother's death remains as painful as ever, saying, “It’s hell. It’s still hell to this day… it’s a situation where you are never free from it.”
Cory is now facing Gayle’s upcoming parole hearing, having been notified in January that an application had been filed. However, the Parole Board of Canada (PBC) provided him with less than three weeks' notice for the hearing, which Cory describes as inadequate. "You’re booking flights, hotels, cars, trying to do victim impact statements, you are trying to talk to a lawyer, you are keeping in touch with the police association. And you have to do all of that in 20 days and live your life at the same point in time; it’s completely unacceptable,” Cory asserts. He expresses concern that the parole system seems to prioritize the rights of the offender, while the victim's family’s needs are often overlooked.
In light of these experiences, Cory is urging for reforms in the parole system. Currently, Canada's regulations allow for another hearing for serious offenders as soon as 18 months after a denial, a timeframe he believes should be extended to every five years. “It’s always in the back of your mind you know it’s coming and then when it comes, ugh, and you go through it again and again and again,” Cory explains, emphasizing the emotional toll that the repeated hearings inflict on families.
The Parole Board of Canada responded to concerns, mentioning that while scheduling hearings, they take several factors into consideration, including legislative timelines and victim notification obligations. Their statement noted, “The Board must also respect procedural fairness; as such, hearing dates may also be affected by requests from the offender to postpone, waive, or withdraw their review.” They claim that registered victims are notified as early as possible to allow sufficient time for them to prepare for the hearings.
In parallel, the Toronto Police Association (TPA) has proposed a series of recommendations to the federal government, advocating for reforms in the parole system. They are optimistic for potential changes and have suggested establishing a separate parole process for the small group of inmates convicted of first-degree murder or multiple murders. Among their recommendations is extending the parole ineligibility period to 35 years, with the possibility of applying for a reduction after 25 years. Additionally, like Cory, they propose that parole hearings be held every five years.
TPA President Clayton Campbell has emphasized that their position on justice and public safety remains consistent. He stated, “We believe in second chances and in reform and rehabilitation for most people. However, we must have systems in place to keep repeat violent offenders in custody.”
