Canada won't be a 'dumping ground' for sex offenders, says Ontario Premier

TORONTO and OTTAWA -- Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty lashed out yesterday at a U.S. judge for using Canada as a "dumping ground" for a convicted sex offender.

Mr. McGuinty urged the federal government to try to overturn an unusual punishment that will allow a teacher convicted of sexually abusing a 15-year-old student to return to Fort Erie, Ont., where he lives with his wife and three children.

Under a plea bargain approved Monday by a New York State court, Malcolm Watson, 35, a U.S. citizen, will spend three years on probation in Canada and enter the United States only to report to his probation officer.

In Ottawa, Rob Nicholson, Tory government house leader, expressed frustration that opposition parties are moving slowly in passing a host of justice bills, including one that would raise the age of sexual consent across Canada to 16.

"As the member of Parliament for Niagara Falls and Fort Erie, I was infuriated to see an American court decision deporting an individual, an American citizen, back to my constituency, a 35-year-old individual who was convicted of having sex with a 15-year-old," he said.

"In Canada, unless that person was in a position of responsibility or trust, that would be perfectly legal. So this is another example of where a bill like C-22, the bill to raise the age of consent for sex in this country to 16, should get the co-operation of all members of Parliament."