The Public Safety Statutes Amendment Act, 2007 proposes expansion of the scope of the Criminal Records Review Act to help prevent the physical and sexual abuse of children.
If a criminal record review of a person covered by the Criminal Records Review Act reveals an outstanding charge or conviction for an enumerated offence, a determination is made as to whether the person presents a risk of physical or sexual abuse to children. If that determination is affirmative, an employer must ensure that the person does not work with children and is not hired for a job that involves working with children.
The Amendment Act proposes expansion of the protection provided by the Criminal Records Review Act by:
- adding offences committed outside Canada to the enumerated offences which trigger a determination;
- extending its application to teachers in independent schools and education students who work with children; and
- requiring employees currently required to provide a criminal record check authorization to do so every five years (employees now are only subject to record checks on the commencement of their employment).
Link to Bill 16 – 1st Reading: Public Safety Statutes Amendment Act