REGINA — Saskatchewan is expanding the list of people convicted of serious crimes who will not be allowed to legally change their names.
Those convicted of certain sex crimes are already banned from changing their names in Saskatchewan.
But a bill introduced by Premier Scott Moe’s government expands the list to include those convicted of other serious crimes.
If passed, the bill would also expand the list of law enforcement agencies that can be notified when a name is changed.
The province says the plan is supported by policing and public agencies.
Earlier this year, Moe’s government had committed to beefing up the rules in his throne speech that promised to get tough on crime.
Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill, who is responsible for the bill, said what constitutes a serious crime will be determined in the regulations once the legislation passes.
“If someone commits a significantly violent crime and attempts to change their name, I think that’s something that carries a level of risk to the public,” he said in an interview after the bill was introduced Wednesday.
“Just because you change your name, it doesn’t mean that you should be able to escape the consequences of previous actions.”
Cockrill said he is aware of one case where a person changed their name after committing a serious crime. He declined to name the person.
“The name that they changed it to has a pretty significant impact on the victim’s family,” he said. “When that was identified, that’s the part of the genesis of this legislative change.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2025.
Jeremy Simes, The Canadian Press
