Screen Capture via CPAC Michael Kerzner Solicitor General

The provincial government is planning on proposing changes to Christopher’s Law (Ontario’s Sex Offender Registry).

“Decades ago, Ontario led the way with Canada’s first sex offender registry, and today we’re making it stronger,” said Solicitor General Michael Kerzner. “By introducing changes to make Christopher’s Law more effective, we’re giving police new tools to prevent, investigate, and solve egregious sex crimes to protect those most vulnerable, especially our children.”

Various changes are planned with the most notable being blocking offenders on the list from legally changing their names so they cannot hide their identities.

Other changes include:

• Requiring sex offenders to report to a police service within a prescribed period after being ordered to serve a conditional sentence
• Mandating sex offenders to report to a police service within a prescribed period after receiving a passport or driver’s licence
• Requiring offenders to report when they are starting to use or make changes to email addresses, social media usernames and other digital identifiers
• Adding new strict travel notification requirements, including requiring registered sex offenders to provide 14 days advance notice if they intend on travelling for seven days or more and requiring that registered child sex offenders provide advance notice if they will be out of Canada for any length of time

The government is also proposing to amend the Change of Name Act which would prohibit sex offenders from changing their names while they have reporting obligations to the Ontario Sex Offender Registry.

“Banning convicted sex offenders from legally changing their name in Ontario will improve public safety,” said Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement, Todd McCarthy. “By strengthening the Change of Name Act, we are closing a legal loophole that allowed these offenders to live in anonymity.”

The province highlighted that there are currently safeguards in place but the changes are aimed at strengthening the system.

“This will strengthen the Ontario Sex Offender Registry and better equip our police service members to prevent, investigate, and solve crimes, especially in today’s increasingly digital environment,” explained the President of the Police Association of Ontario, Mark Baxter. “Providing law enforcement with timely access to critical information on offenders enables our members to do more to keep communities safe and respond effectively to the complexities of modern crime.”

As of September 2024, there are over 14,000 registered sex offenders on the Ontario Sex Offender Registry with active reporting obligations.

The act requires some individuals convicted of or found not criminally responsible on account of a mental disorder for a designated sex offence to register in person at their local police station and report annually each year and within seven days of specific events like a change of address or change of name.

Ontario remains the only province with its own registry.