The Parole Board of Canada (PBC) has granted full parole with conditions to Brayden Bushby, the man convicted of manslaughter in the 2017 death of Barbara Kentner in Thunder Bay, Ont. Bushby was sentenced to eight years in prison five years ago. The decision was made after considering various information, including victim details and recommendations from the Correctional Service of Canada. The PBC stated that releasing Bushby on full parole would not pose an undue risk and would aid in his reintegration as a law-abiding citizen.
Barbara Kentner, a 34-year-old member of Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation, passed away due to medical complications months after being hit by a trailer hitch thrown from a moving vehicle. Bushby, now 27 years old and a father of two, was sentenced in June 2021 to seven years and 11 months due to time served. The decision to grant him full parole has sparked outrage from Kentner’s family and Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation.
Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN), representing 49 First Nations, expressed disappointment over Bushby’s release, calling it a profound injustice. During his pre-release hearing, Bushby attributed his actions to alcohol consumption and poor decision-making. The parole conditions for Bushby include undergoing treatment for substance abuse and mental health, refraining from associating with criminal elements, and abstaining from alcohol and drugs.
The parole decision has been criticized by various organizations and Indigenous communities, emphasizing the continued systemic failures in addressing violence against Indigenous women. Immediate support resources are available for those affected by the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous people.