FORGET POT AND PROTECT KIDS, MINISTER URGES OTTAWA

Ottawa should pay more attention to implementing a national sex registry
and less on reforming pot laws, says Ontario Public Safety and Security
Minister Bob Runciman.

In a media statement Thursday, Runciman crowed about provincial steps taken
against sex offenders, while accusing the federal government of dragging
its heels "for years."

"It's absolutely mind boggling - decriminalizing marijuana is more
important to the federal government than the safety of innocent children,"
he said.

Ontario's sex-offense registry, established in April 2001, requires sex
offenders living in Ontario to register their addresses with local police
within 15 days of leaving custody.

Runciman slammed federal proposals, which he says fall far short of the
Ontario model.

He pointed out that federal proposals would not require rapists convicted
before the law takes effect to register, and would not allow police to
identify past offenders in areas where new crimes occur.