MISSISSAUGA — The Ontario government will soon introduce amendments to Christopher’s Law, that, if passed, will strengthen Ontario’s Sex Offender Registry by giving police more tools to better monitor and supervise registered sex offenders. The government is also proposing changes that would prevent sex offenders from legally changing their names in Ontario so they can’t hide their identities.
“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.”
The proposed changes would help to maintain Ontario’s high reporting compliance rate for registered sex offenders and high-risk child sex offenders by:
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 traveling 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. While there are safeguards currently in place, this proposed change would make it easier for police to monitor sex offenders and prevent them from using a new identity to commit new crimes.
“Banning convicted sex offenders from legally changing their name in Ontario will improve public safety,” said Todd McCarthy, Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement. “By strengthening the Change of Name Act, we are closing a legal loophole that allowed these offenders to live in anonymity.”
Quick Facts
Ontario's Sex Offender Registry, the first of its kind in Canada, was sparked by the tragic 1988 murder of 11-year-old Christopher Stephenson at the hands of a convicted pedophile on federal statutory release. At the 1993 inquest into Christopher's death, the coroner's jury recommended creating a national registry for convicted sex offenders, requiring that they register with their local police service as soon as they are released from jail. With the support of the Stephenson family, victims' groups and law enforcement organizations, the province proclaimed Christopher's Law (Sex Offender Registry), 2000 on April 23, 2001.
Ontario has one of the highest compliance rates of all sex offender registries. More than 94 per cent of registered sex offenders are compliant.
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 (for example, a change of address or change of name).
Ontario remains the only province with its own registry. The Ontario Sex Offender Registry is administered by the Ontario Provincial Police and gives local police services a critical tool to prevent, investigate and solve crimes of a sexual nature and to manage sex offenders within their local community.
Quotes
"This bill gives communities another measure to protect themselves from sex offenders who try to slip into unsuspecting neighborhoods by changing their names. 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."
-Laurie Scott
MPP, Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock
"The right to change one’s name must not be abused. I am proud that our government is working to close a long-standing loophole that previously provided sex offenders, that committed heinous crimes against our children, anonymity and an opportunity to escape accountability. This legislation, would be another measure by our government to protect and support victims and their families on their path to healing."
- Laura Smith
MPP, Thornhill
"The Police Association of Ontario fully supports the government’s proposed enhancements to Christopher’s Law that will lead to better protections for our community members. 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. 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."
- Mark Baxter
President, Police Association of Ontario
"Christopher’s Law remains a vital investigative, offender management, and community safety tool that helps hold sex offenders accountable, delivers justice for victims of crime, and ultimately saves lives. We thank the province for committing to the safety and well-being of communities across Ontario."
- Deputy Chief Roger Wilkie
President, Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police
"In 1988, the Stephenson family endured a devastating and unimaginable loss when their child was fatally abducted by a known sex offender. The proposed amendments to Christopher’s Law aim to strengthen protections for children and families by implementing stricter conditions for sex offenders in our community and enhances police’s enforcement abilities. Peel Regional Police commends the Stephenson family for their tireless advocacy in helping to ensure other families are protected."
- Nishan Duraiappah
Chief, Peel Regional Police
"Victim Services Toronto recognizes the importance of modernizing the Ontario Sex Offender Registry to meet the challenges of a digital world. Many of the survivors we support have experienced harm facilitated through online platforms, and by adapting the registry to include digital identifiers, we are moving towards a more comprehensive approach to prevention and accountability. While there are always considerations around privacy and implementation, these updates could help law enforcement and communities better respond to emerging threats, ultimately enhancing safety for survivors of sexual violence."
- Carly Kalish
Executive Director, Victims Services Toronto
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