RCMP file backlog threatens efforts to crack down on child sex tourism
OTTAWA — A file-processing backlog at the RCMP could “significantly limit” the effectiveness of new measures to track Canadians who travel abroad to sexually abuse children, internal government notes warn.
Amendments that took effect Dec. 1 authorize the Mounties to share information about high-risk child sex offenders with the Canada Border Services Agency to help monitor their international travel.
It is against the law for a Canadian to travel outside of Canada and engage in any sexual activity with a young person that is against the law in Canada. The changes are intended to help Canadian authorities more easily investigate registered sex offenders who leave the country to abuse youngsters.
However, the RCMP must first assess thousands of files in the national sex offender registry to determine which ones fall into the high-risk category — a task that’s far from done, say the Public Safety notes obtained by The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act.