Resolution No. 23-06M

WHEREAS, a ten-year-old boy from the Whitewood, Saskatchewan area was abducted on July 30, 2006, by a known pedophile; and 

WHEREAS, our Saskatchewan law enforcement agencies were not aware that this predator was in the area;  

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that SARM lobby both the federal and provincial governments to enact legislation enabling our law enforcement agencies to develop a system whereby known pedophiles are tracked and whereby the public is notified of the whereabouts of these predators; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that SARM also lobby for legislation that would impose harsher penalties for convicted pedophiles and for a designation of “dangerous offender” for repeat offenders.

Response from Honourable Frank Quennell, Q.C., Minister of Justice and Attorney General: 

I understand that you discussed this issue with Deputy Minister Moen at your meeting of November 29, 2006.  As was agreed at that time, the Department will prepare an article on these issues for you to share in your newsletter.  You will receive the proposed article in the next couple of weeks.   

You seek federal and provincial legislation to enable known pedophiles to be tracked and the public notified of the whereabouts of predators.  You also call for harsher penalties for convicted pedophiles and the designation of “dangerous offender” for repeat offenders.   

The criminal law is federal responsibility and the authority to monitor pedophiles pose-sentence is contained within the Criminal Code peace bond provisions.  I wrote to the Federal Minister of Justice requesting that the peace bond provisions be expanded from the current one-year term to allow for peace bonds for up to two years, to help track pedophiles.  I am pleased to note that Bill C-27 tabled by the federal government in October contained such an amendment.   

In terms of notification of the public about the whereabouts of predators, Saskatchewan has recently implemented a public web site which would allow for the publication of police notifications of pedophiles considered at risk to the community.  The web site is found at: www.saskjustice.gov.sk.ca.  This is similar to the web sites in place in Alberta and Manitoba. 

I also note that penalties for convicted pedophiles and dangerous offenders are matters dealt with under the federal criminal law.  Bill C-27 did move to try to clarify the dangerous offender provisions of the Criminal Code.  Saskatchewan supports the need for such clarification.  However, I have also indicated to Minister Toews that the proposed reforms do not fully address my concerns regarding the need for clarity.