Mandatory maximum sentences
Petitioners ask the House of Commons to amend the Criminal Code to require maximum sentences for sexual offences against children, eliminate leniency for first-time convictions, enforce automatic custodial consequences for breaches, and broaden public access to the National Sex Offender Registry.
Why we would sign this petition
- Requires consistent, tougher sentences so penalties better reflect the seriousness and lasting harm of sexual offences against children.
- Removes leniency for first-time convictions, closing a loophole that can produce lighter penalties and bolstering certainty in sentencing.
- Automatic custody for breaches and expanded Registry access prioritize community safety and increase transparency for at‑risk communities.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Eliminating judicial discretion risks unjust, disproportionate sentences in cases with mitigating factors or exceptional circumstances.
- Mandatory maximums and automatic custody could raise incarceration levels and strain justice and corrections resources without proving better outcomes.
- Wider public Registry access may raise privacy, safety and reintegration concerns, increasing stigma or vigilantism without clear safeguards.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the House of Commons Sexual offences against children cause profound and lasting harm to victims, families, and communities; Canadians expect the criminal justice system to prioritize the protection of children and vulnerable persons; Concerns have been raised regarding sentencing practices for individuals convicted of sexual offences against children, including consistency and proportionality of penalties; and Transparency and public safety measures, including the National Sex Offender Registry, are matters of ongoing public interest We, the undersigned, Citizens of Canada, call upon the House of Commons to act without delay to strengthen Canada’s criminal justice system and better protect children by: 1 - Amending the Criminal Code to require the imposition of the maximum available sentences for individuals convicted of sexual offences against children, reflecting the gravity and lasting harm of these crimes; 2 - Removing sentencing discretion that permits reduced penalties for first-time convictions of sexual offences against children, ensuring such offences are treated with full seriousness from the outset; 3 - Mandating automatic and immediate custodial consequences for any breach of court-ordered conditions by convicted offenders; and 4 - Reforming federal legislation to provide meaningful public access to the National Sex Offender Registry, with community safety as the paramount consideration.
Government response
No government response is available yet.