The High Risk Child Sex Offender Database Regulations (SOR/2026-202) establish timelines for reviewing information in Canada’s publicly accessible High Risk Child Sex Offender Database and processing applications to remove information. The Regulations support the administration of the High Risk Child Sex Offender Database Act (HRCSODA) by establishing deadlines intended to maintain the accuracy, relevance, and public credibility of the database.

The HRCSODA came into force on December 31, 2024, requiring the Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to establish and administer a publicly accessible database containing information about individuals convicted of sexual offences against children who pose a high risk of committing sexual crimes. The database became operational on December 30, 2025.

The database is intended to provide the public with information that police services or other public authorities have already made publicly available. Permitted information includes an individual’s name, surname, aliases, date of birth, gender, physical description, distinguishing marks, photographs, descriptions of offences committed, applicable conditions, and the city, town, municipality, or other organized district where the individual resides. The database does not establish an unrestricted system for publishing personal information; its contents are limited to information specified under the Act that has previously been made public by an authorized source.

The Regulations address two administrative responsibilities assigned to the RCMP Commissioner: deciding applications to remove information and conducting regular reviews of existing records.

Under the Act, individuals whose information appears in the database may submit a written application requesting its removal. The Commissioner must assess the application and determine whether reasonable grounds exist to remove the information. The Regulations establish a 30-day decision period. If the Commissioner does not make a decision within that period, the Act’s deeming provision applies, meaning the application is deemed to have been refused.

The second requirement concerns the ongoing review of database information. The Regulations require the Commissioner to review the information by December 31 of the calendar year in which the Regulations come into force. Following this initial review, the Commissioner must review the information at least once during every calendar year.

Annual reviews are intended to help ensure that database information remains accurate and relevant. They also provide a formal mechanism for reconsidering whether existing information should continue to be maintained, supporting transparency and public confidence in the database.

Canada (202/2026) October 7, 2026
Disclaimer: Insights are for informational purposes only and does not reflect RRI’s official position or constitute legal opinion.