June 18, 2015 – Ottawa, ON – Department of Justice.
The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, and the Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, today welcomed the Royal Assent of the Tougher Penalties for Child Predators Act – comprehensive legislation that better protects children from sexual predators at home and abroad.
The Act includes amendments to the Criminal Code and the Sex Offender Information Registration Act, and allows for the creation of a High-Risk Child Sex Offender Database. The new measures reflect the Government’s commitment in the 2013 Speech from the Throne to re-establish Canada as a country where prison time matches the severity of crimes committed, including ending sentencing discounts for child sex offenders who commit crimes against multiple children.
“Our Government is committed to ensuring that our children are safe and that law enforcement have the tools they need to protect our families and communities. Children should be able to feel safe wherever they are and protected from those who wish to cause them harm. That is why we have taken steps to continue to crack down on sexual predators who abuse and exploit children. Child sexual abuse causes unimaginable devastation to the lives of children, and can cause lifelong emotional turmoil that profoundly affects victims well into adulthood. Today I am pleased to announce that our Tougher Penalties for Child Predators Act has received Royal Assent. This new legislation will better protect children from a range of sexual offences, including child pornography, while making our streets and communities safer by cracking down on those who wish to harm Canada’s most vulnerable: our children.”
Peter MacKay
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
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