Ontario Moves to Strengthen Sex Offender Registry and Block Name Changes for Convicted Offenders

THORNHILL — Ontario is set to introduce amendments to Christopher’s Law aimed at strengthening the province’s Sex Offender Registry. The proposed changes would give police enhanced tools to monitor and supervise registered sex offenders while preventing these offenders from legally changing their names in Ontario.

The amendments come following a private member’s bill, Bill 138, tabled in the fall of 2023 by Thornhill MPP Laura Smith and Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock MPP Laurie Scott. Bill 138 sought to prohibit name changes for convicted sex offenders, ensuring those listed under Christopher’s Law could not use a legal loophole to obscure their identities. The government has since incorporated the bill’s objectives into its proposed legislation.

“The right to change one’s name must not be abused,” said Laura Smith, MPP for Thornhill. “I am proud that our government is working to close a long-standing loophole that previously provided sex offenders…anonymity and an opportunity to escape accountability.” Smith highlighted the legislation as a step toward protecting victims and their families on their journey to healing.

Every child deserves to grow up in a safe community.

Today we announced legislation that, if passed, will ban those on Ontario’s Sex Offender Registry from legally changing their names and require them to disclose the creation of new social media accounts to police.… pic.twitter.com/Qg2GgSDKPx

— Michael Kerzner (@MPPKerzner) November 15, 2024

Laurie Scott, MPP for Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the bill’s focus on public safety. “The criminals who shatter the lives of their victims should not be given the opportunity to hide from their crimes and threaten the safety of women and children,” she said.

The proposed changes would include several measures to maintain Ontario’s high reporting compliance rate for registered offenders. These include:

• Requiring offenders to report to police when they are issued conditional sentences, passports, or driver’s licenses.
• Mandating offenders to report changes in email addresses, social media usernames, or other digital identifiers.
• Imposing strict travel notification requirements, such as giving 14 days’ advance notice for trips of seven days or more and notifying authorities of any travel outside Canada for registered child sex offenders.

Ontario Solicitor General Michael Kerzner underscored the province’s leadership in this area, noting its role in creating Canada’s first sex offender registry. “Today, we’re making it stronger,” Kerzner said. “By introducing changes…we’re giving police new tools to prevent, investigate, and solve egregious sex crimes to protect those most vulnerable, especially our children.”

The legislation also proposes changes to the Change of Name Act, barring sex offenders from altering their names while they have reporting obligations under the Sex Offender Registry. Todd McCarthy, Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement, highlighted the significance of this amendment. “Banning convicted sex offenders from legally changing their name in Ontario will improve public safety,” he said.

The Ontario government’s move reflects a commitment to ensuring the safety of its most vulnerable residents, while providing law enforcement with the tools necessary to uphold accountability and deter further offenses.