Lindsey's Law Gets Boost from Ontario, PEI Government
"Momentum growing" says Lunn

August 20, 2003
SIDNEY: Gary Lunn today announced that Lindsey's Law is gaining the support of Provincial Solicitors General from coast to coast. Lunn wrote to Provincial governments seeking their support for his Bill - named for missing person Lindsey Nicholls - on June 24th.

Lunn's Bill (C-441) calls for the creation of DNA databases of unidentified human remains and missing persons in order to compare those samples against the over 6,000 unidentified samples collected from crime scenes across the country.

"PEI has expressed its complete support for the initiative and written to the federal Solicitor General accordingly," said Lunn, "In addition, Ontario Solicitor General says his government will support my bill as long as amendments are included to protect personal privacy rights of victims and their families."

Lunn indicated that he would be pressing for the amendments suggested by Ontario without hesitation, to clear the way for their support. In addition to PEI and Ontario, Saskatchewan has also expressed its interest in C-441 (Lindsey's Law).

"Saskatchewan Minister of Justice Eric Cline has written and said his government will be considering the implications of expanding the federal DNA database to cover unidentified human remains and DNA from missing persons," continued Lunn, "I hope to convince Minister Cline that this is exactly what needs to be done. The implication is clear - we will be able to bring closure to the uncertainty that families of missing people have lived with for years."

"I am greatly heartened that the Provinces of PEI, Ontario and Saskatchewan have all seen the merits in this legislation," concluded Lunn, "It is my hope that we can translate this momentum into action from the Solicitor General before the next general election."