Madam Speaker, it is an honour to be able to speak in support of my colleague's bill, Bill C-284. The member for Calgary Centre has done a lot of hard work on this very important issue.
Many in society are concerned about the safety of our children. Many are concerned about ensuring that those responsible for children will not abuse their position of trust. Many are concerned about how difficult it is for children's organizations to know whom it is they are hiring and to be sure they are not putting children at risk. These are the concerns which Bill C-284 intends to address.
The bill would enable those responsible for children to make fully informed decisions about whom they hire. Bill C-284 will give parents with children and third party care the assurance that those responsible for looking after their children have not abused this position of authority in the past.
Bill C-284 is specific in its intent to better protect our children from those who have been abusive toward them in the past. Bill C-284 proposes to allow for the limited disclosure of an individual's criminal record if the individual has been convicted of a sexual offence against a child and later applies for a position of trust with respect to children.
Such a disclosure will include an individual's criminal record for a previous sexual offence against a child or children, even if one had served one's sentence and had later received a pardon which had removed the notice of conviction from the individual's criminal record.
I am glad to note that this is a votable bill and that so many members are speaking in favour of this very important bill.
It is certainly in the public interest for children not to be exposed to those who have abused children in the past and are more likely to do so again. It is in the public interest for parents to have confidence in those who are caring for their children.
As a former teacher and child care worker I know the importance that working with children has and the position of trust individuals in those positions are entrusted with. I emphasize that the limited disclosure, which I mentioned earlier, will only take effect when an individual applies for a position of trust with respect to a child or to children, a point which we hope the government takes note of.
I also support this bill for other reasons. This bill does not propose that sex offences against children can never be pardoned. This bill does not propose if one makes a mistake such as that, it should be forever on one's record. Rather, Bill C-284 proposes that if one does sexually abuse children, that person should effectively be prevented from holding a position of authority with children again. Those responsible for children will be able to see that a job applicant has abused such a position of trust in the past and thus be more judicious in their hiring practices.
Why is Bill C-284 necessary? Essentially it sends a message that the protection of our children is of paramount importance. What more valuable resource do we have, as other members have alluded to earlier in this chamber, than our children? Not only as individuals, as families, but as a society we must protect our children.
We see that many statistics and reports have been made that show that individuals who have committed these types of offences are more likely to offend again. I am not saying that all do, but research shows that individuals are more likely to offend again if they have committed these types of offences before.
I would also like to mention the point of privacy which was brought forward by the government member. In a May 1996 discussion paper the Privacy Commissioner explained that the Privacy Act does not prevent the release of personal information if it is in the public interest to release such information. In fact the act specifically permits the release of personal information in the public interest.
In April 1996 an RCMP protocol manual said that they defined public interest as evaluated on the basis of whether it is specific, current and probable, and where there is a possible invasion of privacy balanced against the public interest consideration may be given to who would be receiving the information and whether any controls can be placed on the further use or release of this information.
I would submit to members of this House that the disclosure provisions of Bill C-284 fall well within the accepted protocol for the release of personal information of which one's criminal record is a part.
I would like to close by noting a particular case that happened in the town I lived in when I was a youngster. In fact, this story was brought to mind by an article written in the Ottawa Citizen back in November of last year by an individual whose name is Abby Drover. For those who have suffered from sexual abuse, she characterized it as a life sentence.
I remember this particular case because of its gruesomeness. I do not want to go into the details of it, but just say that those who would commit such offences against children violate not only our children but us as a whole and as a society. We must put the emphasis on protecting our children because they are the most valuable resource that we have.
As the father of four young children, I speak strongly in support of this bill. I urge all members when we vote on this very important bill next week to give it their full support.