Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak wants to see an online public sex offender registry implemented throughout the province. Hudak believes that Ontarians should have the right to know where convicted sexual offenders live after they have been released from prison.
Hudak insists Ontarians will use the resource properly and that the registry will increase the safety of neighbourhoods where convicted sexual predators live.
“I trust parents like these to use that information responsibly to protect their own kids if they know that there’s a child predator in their neighbourhood,” Hudak is quoted as telling the CBC.
Hudak rejected suggestions that having this information available to the public, would lead to instances where the sexual offender would be in danger, and a target of vigilante justice by the general public. In addition, the Conservatives would also like to implement GPS ankle bracelets, to be worn by all high risk offenders, so their movements can be tracked.
Ontario Liberal Leader and current Premier of Ontario, Dalton McGuinty is against the idea and calls upon politicians to take advice from the police.
“[Police] tell us that this particular approach is not the kind of thing that’s going to lead to more public safety, so I’m with them,” McGuinty told the CBC.
McGuinty also believes, having a public sex offender registry, has the strong potential to advocate illegal violence towards sexual offenders in neighbourhoods across Ontario.
The Premier also added that implementing a project of this kind would be very expensive for Ontario tax payers.
With the Ontario Provincial Election approaching, it is expected Tim Hudak will attempt to get as many Ontarians as he can, on board with his parties platform which of course includes Hudaks proposed sex offender registry.
There have been mixed reactions from Ontarians commenting online on CBC News on the story, regarding Hudak's proposal.
"I have to tell you, Dalton's looking better and better all the time," commented one reader.
"Hudak you're completely blowing it!," commented another reader.
While there are many Ontarians who oppose the idea, many Ontarians support Hudak's proposal.
"As a parent, this is an issue I support the the PCs on," stated one commenter.
Hudak also promised, if elected, he would ensure prisoners were put on work details, including "cutting grass and cleaning up garbage."
Dalton McGuinty, however, disagreed with Hudak, arguing that prisoners that are let into the public, no matter the security, pose a threat to the safety of the people living in the area where these prisoners are to work.
In the coming weeks leading up the the election all candidates will be pushing their platforms on Ontarians, trying to gain as much support as possible. Ontarians will be going to the polls on October 6th 2011.
Kayan Yassine - Kayan Yassine is an avid follower in the fields of sports, entertainment news and politics and focus' his writing in those areas.
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