Alberta to end name changes for dangerous, long-term, high-risk offenders
Posted Mar 23, 2021 6:17 am.
EDMONTON – Alberta is moving to stop dangerous, long-term or high-risk offenders from legally changing their names.
Service Alberta Minister Nate Glubish has introduced legislation in the house to make the change.
Glubish said keeping such offenders from assuming a new identity would provide peace of mind for victims and for other Albertans.
I'm very pleased to have tabled further amendments to the Vital Statistics Act today that will prohibit dangerous and long-term offenders from ever being able to legally change their names. 1/3 #ableg pic.twitter.com/BKga6oY8AX
— Nate Glubish (@nateglubish) March 22, 2021
The bill calls for designated offenders to be banned for life from changing their names, even if the designation were eventually removed.
It builds on amendments made to the Vital Statistics Act last year, which barred some convicted sex offenders from changing their name.
Glubish said he is urging other provinces to make similar changes because it’s critical to prevent someone from changing a name in one jurisdiction only to move to a new province under a new identity.
