The Ontario government is preparing to launch a new public website next year that will identify high-risk offenders released into communities across the province, marking one of the most significant public safety policy changes in recent years.
The announcement came Monday as Michael Kerzner introduced the province’s latest omnibus justice bill alongside Attorney General Doug Downey.
Under the proposed legislation, the Ontario Provincial Police commissioner would gain authority to publish information online whenever a police chief issues a public community notification regarding a high-risk offender or sex offender being released back into society.
Currently, police services across Ontario already issue community alerts in certain cases involving offenders considered to pose a significant public safety concern after completing their prison sentences. The new legislation would centralize those notices into a single provincewide public database accessible online.
Provincial officials say the move is intended to align Ontario with existing public notification systems already operating at the federal level and in provinces such as Alberta.
While ministers argued the new website would help strengthen public safety and community awareness, the government did not provide extensive details about how the system would operate, what information would be disclosed, or how long offender information would remain publicly accessible.
The justice bill also introduces several other major legal and public safety changes touching areas ranging from animal welfare to transit safety and government technology procurement.
Among the proposed reforms is legislation allowing restraining orders issued in other Canadian provinces and territories to be automatically enforced in Ontario without requiring victims or applicants to appear before an Ontario court again.
The province is also moving to prohibit several medically unnecessary procedures performed on animals, including cat declawing, dog ear cropping and devocalization procedures intended to reduce barking by altering or removing a dog’s vocal cords.
Ontario had reportedly considered banning dog tail docking as well but ultimately decided not to include the practice in the legislation, offering no public explanation for the exclusion.
Another major component of the bill expands the powers of special constables working within transit systems, giving them greater authority to arrest or fine individuals using illegal drugs on public transit property.
The legislation also addresses growing security concerns involving foreign technology by prohibiting future government procurement of Chinese-made drones and restricting drone usage by both the provincial government and the Ontario Provincial Police.
Although the province did not specifically name manufacturers in the legislation, much of the public attention has focused on Chinese drone giant DJI, whose products are widely used globally.
Solicitor General Kerzner clarified that existing drones currently in operation are not being immediately grounded, but emphasized that Ontario intends to support the development and adoption of domestic technology solutions moving forward.
The broad justice bill reflects the Ford government’s continued emphasis on public safety, law enforcement expansion and tougher crime-related policies ahead of another politically active year at Queen’s Park.
Supporters argue the measures will improve transparency, protect communities and modernize enforcement tools, while critics are expected to raise concerns about privacy rights, civil liberties and the long-term implications of publicly identifying offenders after they have completed their sentences.