Saskatchewan banning name changes by sex offenders

Saskatchewan is banning sex offenders from changing their names.

Justice Minister Don Morgan told Gormley on Wednesday his ministry was preparing the ban, which could take effect as soon as February.

“The right to change your name isn’t some constitutionally protected thing,” Morgan said. “Public safety should outweigh some of these conveniences on a name change.”

The ban would apply to people who are convicted of one or more of a list consisting of more than 20 Criminal Code offences — most of which relate to sex crimes involving children, but also includes sexual assault and incest.

Talk of a ban arose after a Regina Leader-Post story outlining how a man who was convicted as a child abuser in the U.S. changed his name when he returned to Canada.

The ban on name changes could be the first of its kind in Canada.

Morgan said other provinces will do a criminal record check on those looking to change their name and share the information with other agencies, but they won’t prohibit the change.

The justice minister noted the language of the ban will be presented to cabinet later in January, and it would likely be in place by February.