St. Catharines council votes to call on federal gov’t to make changes to national sex offender registry

St. Catharines City Council has voted to call on the federal government to make changes to the national sex offender registry while also appealing for bail reform.

The move comes following the horrific sexual assault of a child in Welland this August by a registered sex offender.

Councillor Kevin Townsend tabled a motion on the subject and a number of delegates spoke at a council meeting on Monday.

Earlier this month St. Catharines Mayor Mat Siscoe wrote a letter to Ontario Premier Doug Ford stating his support for Welland Mayor Frank Campion in his quest for sex offender bail reform.

Mayor Campion wrote directly to Ford and Prime Minister Mark Carney on Sept. 4 demanding urgent bail reforms.

“As Mayor Frank Campion has made clear, the failings of our current system are leaving communities exposed to violent repeat offenders who face little real consequence for their actions. The result is devastating to the community, and the public is losing confidence in the institutions charged with keeping them safe,” Mayor Siscoe said in his letter to the premier.

READ MORE: Community rallies in St. Catharines following Welland child sexual assault