WHEREAS the Government of Canada has given second reading to Bill C-23, the Sex Offender Information Registration Act, which allows for the creation of a National Sex Offender Registry; and

WHEREAS this proposed legislation, although supported in principle by police services across Canada, falls short of the scope and effectiveness envisioned by the policing community, namely: ? No photograph is required, even though this tool is most effective in identifying offenders; ? The proposed database fields are restricted to only the most basic information such as name, address, physical description, scars, marks, tattoos and postal code which falls far short of the investigative value of the Ontario model; ? The proposed national database search capabilities are restricted to postal code and address queries which do not allow for immediate, accurate geo-mapping radius searches; ? The proposed non-compliancy first conviction penalty of $10,000 or six months in jail is far too low; ? Sex offenders only have to register at the nearest police facility to their residence ? not necessarily with the local police service responsible for their residence; ? The Registry is not retroactive - meaning existing sex offenders in custody will not be entered. Since records would only be entered from the ?Go Live? date, this tool could take years before it builds a critical mass, and;

WHEREAS the Ontario Sex Offender Registry has proven to be a very effective tool since its inception in April of 2001 for police to investigate, monitor, prevent and solve crimes of a sexual nature, and;

WHEREAS the Ontario model has consistently maintained in excess of a 92% compliance rate and is considered the world leader.

THERFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Government of Canada revisit the functionality of the proposed National Sex Offender Registry and expand its capabilities to meet or exceed the functionality of the Ontario Sex Offender Registry prior to the passage of legislation. Adopted at the OACP Annual General Meeting, Wednesday June 18, 2003.