REPORT FROM PARLIAMENT

Summer is fast approaching and in Ottawa election rumours are rampant. While opposition members are chomping at the bit at the chance of another election, your Conservative Government continues to work hard drafting and passing legislation that will protect the interests of Canadian families.

Existing sex offender laws, though well intentioned, are in need of strengthening. Recent events within my riding have brought this topic to the forefront of people’s minds. My constituents have made it clear that they would welcome improved legislation.

I’m pleased to say our Conservative Government listened to victims groups and local police services. On June 1^st, Minister Van Loan announced a bill to strengthen the National Sex Offender Registry and the National DNA Data Bank so that they become more effective tools for police in the prevention of sex crimes.

Currently, not all convicted sex offenders end up in the National Sex Offender Registry, a convicted sex offender is only registered when the Crown asks the court to order registration, and gains agreement from the judge. Our government is making this registration mandatory.

The existing rules only allow police officers to use the registry when solving a crime. The proposed legislation will allow our law enforcement to use the Registry pro-actively to prevent crime and keep our families safe.

Other proposed amendments in the legislation include:

• Ensuring international sex offenders will be included on the National Sex Offender Registry. Current legislation does not include those guilty of sexual offences outside of Canada, including child sexual exploitation, on the Registry;  

· Offenders convicted of a designated sexual offence under the Sex Offender Information Registration Act will also now be subject to a mandatory order to provide a DNA sample for the National DNA Databank;

• Canadians convicted abroad of sex crimes and returning to Canada at the end of sentence must report their conviction to police within 7 days of arriving in Canada or face criminal prosecution.

Innocent victims have their lives torn apart by criminals, but these additional measures will help law enforcement ensure the safety of our families and communities. Please visit www.publicsafety.gc.ca for the full detail of the legislation.

Hon. Gerry Ritz is the Member of Parliament for Battlefords-Lloydminster www.gerryritzmp.ca