Forsyth gets ink as feds give
ground on sex offender registry
By David Bray
Solicitor General Heather Forsyth reaped national media coverage at this fall’s
federal meeting of ministers responsible for justice for her push to expand the
proposed national registry of sex offenders.
The federal government agreed at the Sept. 29-Oct. 1 meeting in Quebec to look at broadening the registry to include offenders convicted before the registry becomes law. Alberta has been a leader among other provinces, police associations and victims advocacy groups pushing for a wider registry.
Forsyth made headlines after arguing Alberta’s case at the meeting, pushing the federal government to go even further.
“I think we have made some movement but some of our concerns are that there will still be sex offenders who will be missed,” she said in a report by The National Post.
A Globe and Mail story said Forsyth pushed for the federal legislation to include photographs and list offenders who have been released back into the community after serving their sentences. Alberta would also like to see a geo-mapping capability, that would improve the investigative ability of the police in serious sexual assault cases.
Forsyth also argued for greater cooperation among provinces to combat methamphetamine use and manufacture, pushed for tougher laws to combat marijuana grow operations and pointed out Alberta’s opposition to the decriminalization of marijuana.
“Marijuana grow operations are a major funding source for a broad range of organized crime activities,” she said.
“They are a threat to public health and safety and we need legislation that makes it tougher on illegal growers.”
Forsyth also lead discussions on prescription drug abuse in First Nations communities.
