MP John Reynolds expresses frustration with system
Alliance MP John Reynolds plans to raise the case of an alleged Whistler sex offender in the House of Commons next week in Ottawa.
His concern is that the Sydney native was granted a work visa for Canada in 2002 around the same time as restraining orders were issued against him in Australia on behalf of two teenage boys.
"It is quite obvious that criminals and terrorists around the world know that Canada is a soft and easy place to land," said Reynolds, MP for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast.
"It just shows the grave weakness of the system that here is someone with these restraining orders against him in a different country working here."
Since restraining orders are not a criminal conviction they would not show up in any police check.
It’s likely they would show up, however, in a more thorough background check.
The Australian, who cannot be identified due to a court ordered publication ban to protect the identities of the complainants, was to appear in provincial court May 29 in North Vancouver.
He is charged with nine sex offences involving six children, five of whom live in Whistler.
The charges relate to four of the six children and are alleged to have occurred between Feb. 1, 2002 and April 28, 2003.
The Sydney man moved to Whistler in January 2002. His one-year Canadian work visa expired at the end of January.
"It is frustrating and I can imagine the frustration of the family involved," said Reynolds, referring to the revelation that the alleged offender had issues with teenagers in Sydney.
"I can only say that there are many people here in Ottawa who are as frustrated as they are."
A magistrate of Sydney’s Central Local Court granted the restraining orders said court sources.
Termed an Apprehended Violence Order in Sydney, it prevents the alleged offender from: "stalking, intimidating, assaulting, molesting, harassing, threatening, and otherwise interfering with then 17- and 14-year-old boys."
He was also ordered to stay away from their homes and any schools they may be attending.
According to the records the Sydney man consented to the AVO, which is not a criminal proceeding and does not admit any wrongdoing.
The order lasts for two years from its Jan. 24, 2002 start date.
