Protection for Children at Risk in Canada

We are asking that our Government review the maximum sentence in Canada for charged and convicted sex offenders, pedophiles and molesters. We are asking that the minimum sentence be increased to at least 10 years in prison.

Currently in Canada the maximum sentence for molesting a child is 2 to 4 years. Many convicted sex offenders in Canada only serve 1/3 of their sentence in prison. Our system is failing in regards to protecting our children. Fundamentally society is heading in the right direction or wants to head in the right direction in regards to child protection issues. I think judges have an obligation to try to help it head there.

When it comes to child protection issues, we can empower our children and arm them with knowledge of sexual abuse. Parents can take courses and read books about sexual abuse. However education about sexual abuse must start from the highest powers of authority, and work its way through to the civial workers.

Our system is short of Judges in Canada, and so charged sex offenders wait two to three years before they go to trial for their charges. The stigma of "how" children should react to any form of abuse is still sadly in the dark ages for majority of the population. More awareness more education and more exposure to child protection should be implemented in the school system, in churches, in the judicial system and of course anyone working in child protection services.

While many charged sex offenders are awaiting trial in Canada, many of them have full freedom to have unsupervised access to children. The rights of children in Canada are not being properly addressed when it comes to safety and risks in the community. There is no trust more sacred than the one the world holds with children. There is no duty more important than ensuring that their rights are respected, that their welfare is protected, that their lives are free from fear and want and that they can grow up in peace.

We currently do not have a Registered Sex Offender Act in Canada; therefore we are unable to be made aware of a sex offender living in our community.

There are so many things wrong with our system when it comes to protecting children. So we are asking that our Government changes the laws in regards to charged sex offenders. Dont fall for the trap of thinking sexual abuse happens at the hands of a stranger, the offenders walk among us. Statistics on sexual abuse reports that 30-40% of victims from sexual abuse is from someone within their own family, 50% of victims are sexually abused by someone outside their family but someone the child knows well and trusts, the other 10% of victims are abused by strangers.

I am asking that you sign this petition as fellow concerned Canadian citizens if you would like to enforce stricter laws on charged and convicted sex offenders in Canada.

Once I have 100,000 signatures I will then proceed with taking this petition to the Prime Minister of Canada as well as our Members who we elect into Parliament. It starts with one concerned caring person to make a difference, so let that person be you! Make a difference and please sign the petition.

While offences for sexually molesting children in Canada currently carry a maximum sentence of 10 years, and incest carries a possible 14 year sentence, the reality of sentences is that they seem quite low. Following cases illustrate this well:

1. Bill Bradley - convicted of molesting (including rape and sodomy) 19 children - 6 years.

2. Wray Budreo - convicted of molesting 3 children (30 year history of molesting boys with more than 22 convictions) - 6 years

3. Cecil Miller - molested 8 children (including rape and sodomy, with one victim still in diapers) - 7 years

4. Donald and Sandra Rutter - convicted of abusing children from the ages of 8 to 13 - 5 years for Donald and 1 year for Sandra

5. Dr. Masura Fujibayashi (a dentist) - convicted of 17 counts of sexual/indecent assault against child patients from 1962 to 1988 (estimated over 450 victims) - 4 years

6. Msgr. John Monegahan (Catholic priest) - 14 counts of indecent assault; 3 counts of sexual assault (victims as young as 6; estimated over 250 victims) - 4 years

7. Matthew Ralf Harks, 27 yrs old, has been released to the Calgary (April 2010) area after having served a three-year federal prison term for sexual assault. The public is warned that Harks is an individual who has criminal convictions for offences against young female children. Harks did not know his victims and has used manipulation to gain access to children.

These are just a few cases that illustrate the realities of the kinds of sentences that child abusers get. Six and seven year sentences seem to be on the high end of sentences. It must also be noted that these people can apply for parole after 1/3 of their sentence has been served, and they will be released automatically after 2/3 of their sentence has been served on mandatory supervision. For Bill Bradley, his entire sentence works out to less than 4 months for each victim; if he gets out in 2 years, it will mean less than 2 months for each victim.

Judges do not have the authority to impose mandatory treatment for these offenders because such an imposition was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of Canada. In 2004, however, in partnership with provinces and territories, the Canadian Government created a National Sex Offender Registry, in order to provide rapid access to vital information to the police about convicted sex offenders. Currently there is no National Sex Offender Registry available to the public.