The Opposition is calling on the provincial government to “tighten up the rules” to prevent registered sex offenders from changing their names.
The question came in the House of Assembly in response to a CBC report outlining the shock one woman felt when told by Correctional Service Canada that the man who sexually attacked her had legally changed his name.
Opposition critic for Digital Government and Service NL, Chris Tibbs, questioned Minister Sarah Stoodley about tightening up the rules surrounding name changes for registered sex offenders.
She says she can’t fathom the rage and disbelief she would feel if she was a victim and learning that the perpetrator had changed his name. She says the province is looking into the situation “urgently.” She offered her reassurance that “you can’t change your name and evade the law” but acknowledged the trauma receiving such a letter would cause for a survivor.