To protect a predator or an innocent child There should be no question. The answer is clear or atleast it should be. It appears our Government does not agree. The truth of the matter is that the existing Canadian Sex Offender Registry does not protect our children as it should. One could easily argue that it is the predators who live among us who have the protection; this is something that needs to be fixed and it needs to be fixed now. There are serious flaws with the system that must be addressed immediately. As a mother of two young daughters, I believe I should have the right to know if a sex offender lives in my neighborhood. With the current system, not only do I not have this right but police officers patrolling my neighborhood do not have this right either! Some other flaws include: *A sex offender can 'negotiate' via the plea bargain phase and get away with not even registering, *Registration is NOT mandatory but must be ordered by a judge, *Difficulty in monitoring existing offenders due to the "broken" system, *The law is "very clear that the [registry] can only be accessed after a sexual crime has been committed," not before. If a teacher describes a strange man loitering outside a school, police are not allowed to search the database for potential suspects. "Potential for preventing a sexual crime is ignored." *Local police do not have direct access but must contact the RCMP to search the system There are numerous flaws, this petition only mentions a few. An article by Mclean's magazine, www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfmPgNm=TCE&Params=M1ARTM0013263 provides more information. Though the article is very encouraging, time is of the essence. After all, it has already been four years of a broken system and innocent children at risk and in harm's way. There is strength in numbers. With a federal election in the very, very, near future, our voices will be louder and perhaps even heard. For the sake and safety of all of our innocent children, please show your support for this cause by signing this petition and forwarding it to everyone you know. Let's work together for a common goal to get our government to make the changes so desperately needed to keep our children safe.