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The Quebec government has tabled legislation that aims to reinforce public security by creating a public registry for high-risk sex offenders and crack down on organized crime.
Ian Lafrenière, the province’s public security minister, tabled the bill Wednesday morning.
The proposed legislation also proposes to impose certain restrictions on protests near the homes of elected officials and allow police forces to relay certain pieces of information about sex offenders to either victims or groups that help victims of domestic violence.
Here’s a quick rundown of Bill 13.
‘Anti-patch’ measure for gangs
One of the goals of Bill 13 is to limit the ability of organized crime groups to glorify their lifestyle and intimidate, exploit and recruit young people.
Bill 13 includes what the governments refers to as an ”anti-patch” measure — which seems to be a direct reference to organized crime groups like the Hell’s Angels.
The bill would ban the public display of symbols and logos associated to criminal groups.
A public registry for sex offenders and help for victims
According to the provincial government’s news release, the bill would allow police forces to relay certain pieces of information about these offenders to either victims or groups that help victims of domestic violence ”when the circumstances require it.”
The news release lists example such as police telling victims about an offender’s release conditions when they are let out before their next court appearance. In other cases, police could contact the support groups.
The proposed legislation also calls for victims to be able to testify at the Commission québécoise des libérations conditionnelles, the provincial parole board and share details about what they endured.
Getting protests away from elected officials’ homes
The Quebec government also wants to impose certain restrictions on protests.
The bill would also require protests to take place at least 50 metres away from the home of an MNA, a local elected official or a prefect for the province’s regional county municipalities, which are commonly referred to in French as MRCs.
