Joint Statement from the Otipemisiwak Métis Government and the Family of Maurice Cardinal and Jacob Sansom on the Dismissal of Anthony Bilodeau’s Supreme Court Appeal
Posted on: Nov 27, 2024
The Otipemisiwak Métis Government acknowledges the Supreme Court of Canada’s decision to dismiss the appeal of Anthony Michael Bilodeau, convicted of killing Maurice Cardinal and Jacob Sansom. While no legal outcome can repair the harm caused by this terrible act or heal the deep wounds left by it, this decision serves as a step toward justice for the families of Maurice Cardinal and Jacob Sansom and for the entire Métis community impacted by this tragedy.
“The dismissal of this appeal provides some measured relief, but it cannot erase the enduring pain felt by the families of Maurice and Jacob. We commend the Supreme Court for upholding the sentences in a case that has deeply wounded our community. This ruling sends a powerful message that crimes against Métis people will not be tolerated.” – Andrea Sandmaier, President of the Otipemisiwak Métis Government.
“As a family, we take a moment to breathe in the wake of the Supreme Court of Canada’s decision to dismiss Anthony Bilodeau’s appeal to overturn his conviction. Anthony was convicted of manslaughter in the death of my brother Jacob Sansom and second-degree murder in the death of my uncle Maurice Cardinal. He was sentenced to life in prison with the opportunity to apply for parole in 13 years.
These facts are difficult to comprehend, as the lives of my brother and uncle are reduced to cold metrics through the sentencing process: time served, the parole board, and good behaviour on the accused’s part. All of this occurs within a justice system that was not made equitably for Métis families, nor for an individual who shows little to no remorse for his deliberate act of taking Jake and Maurice’s lives.
There can be no solace, no justice, nor any punishment that will rectify the harm the Bilodeau family has caused by stealing our boys’ lives based on their assumptions and fears. They believed that a black truck on a public road at 9:00 p.m. on March 27, 2020, must be up to something. In reality, my brother and uncle were doing what they had always done for their community—sharing in a successful harvest, providing for those without, and honouring our Métis ways by maintaining reciprocal relationships.
We can only rally together as the resilient nation we are to ensure that no other families live in fear of practicing their rights as Métis harvesters. We must ensure that Métis voices are heard and that no other family must endure such horrific crimes alone. Our lives matter; Jake and Maurice’s lives mattered. We matter. We must continue to push for change within Canada’s justice system.
My family and I are so grateful for all the love and support we have received. We thank you for standing with us during this difficult time. I write this statement on behalf of my family, with their permission, but through the lens of a sister and niece.” – Gina Levasseur, Family Member of Maurice Cardinal and Jacob Sansom
This decision by the Supreme Court of Canada reaffirms the Otipemisiwak Métis Government’s commitment to seek justice for all Métis people and to push for reforms that ensure our voices are heard and respected within Canada’s legal framework.
Media contact:
Kenny Trenton
Press Secretary