Saskatchewan is taking steps to prevent convicted sex offenders from changing their names, making it the first province to refuse name changes based on a criminal record.
An order in council approved by cabinet last week will require a criminal record check for people over the age of 18 seeking a name change.
“It would not be in the public interest to register a change of name for a person convicted of specific sexual offences in the past 10 years,” the order reads.
The reason for the new law was stated. Because of what one person did . Is this the policy norm now days? What a dog and pony show.
Fair. One of the individuals here changed his name and almost immediately engaged in sexual recidivism. Another immigrated illegally.
And all they are doing is making the person wait ten years— not 10 years from release, or 10 years from the end of judicial sanction, but just 10 years from the date of conviction.
I hope they accommodate women who marry or divorce, but otherwise, this is pretty mild (and after all, it is Canada).