Sexual predators deserve consecutive sentencesa
By Lethbridge Herald on October 4, 2025.
Rachael Thomas
Lethbridge MP
There’s a special delight every consumer knows—the moment you realize you’re paying less than you expected. Discounts are always a win, whether it’s 15 per cent off, buy one get the other half-off, or even better—buy one get one free.
As great as these discounts are— they belong in stores, not in courtrooms.
Unfortunately, discounts are handed out far too often in criminal justice sentencing. One of these discounts is concurrent sentencing, which allows offenders to serve a single sentence for multiple crimes, often reducing their time behind bars significantly.
This type of sentencing is even applied to the most egregious crimes like sexual assault and violence. These are crimes that rob individuals of their dignity and violate them in deep ways. Concurrent sentencing should never be allowed for sexual assault.
I’m proud to address this with my Private Member’s Bill, C-246: the Ending Sentence Reductions for Sexual Predators Act. This Act will mandate consecutive sentencing, rather than concurrent sentencing, for individuals convicted of sexual offences. In plain terms, sexual predators will no longer be able to compress their crimes and walk away with a reduced sentence. Each crime will carry its own penalty, and each victim will receive the recognition they deserve.
Currently, consecutive sentences are primarily applied to crimes against children. This approach should extend to adults as well—sexual assault, whether against a child or an adult, demands the full force of the law.
In Canada, the maximum sentence for a break-in or a violent robbery is life imprisonment. In sharp contrast, the maximum penalty for sexual violence is 10 years for an adult victim and 14 years for a victim under the age of 16. A sexual offence robs an individual of their dignity and consent, yet property crime and robbery are treated more severely than sexual offences. It’s completely unacceptable.
For far too long, the scales of the justice system have been tilted in favour of criminals. Liberal soft-on-crime policies have left victims vulnerable. Since 2015, sexual assaults are up nearly 75 per cent, while offences against children are up 120 per cent.
These aren’t just numbers; they are real people.
In Toronto, a family doctor, George Polemidiotis, was charged with nine counts of sexual assault and four counts of sexual exploitation involving three patients. Despite these intrusive and grave crimes, he was handed a concurrent sentence of three-and-a-half years in prison.
These patients were supposed to feel safe and cared for by their doctor. Instead, they left the clinic feeling violated. The man responsible for such profound harm will serve only a short sentence, while his victims will carry the weight of their suffering for the rest of their lives. It’s unthinkable! This sentence not only denies the victims of justice but also inflicts further distress as they struggle to heal while facing the reality that their abuser will soon walk free in society again.
A second case highlighting Canada’s broken justice system is that of Kashif Ramzan in British Columbia. Ramzan pretended to be a talent agent with influence in the modelling world and deceived two teens into attending “auditions.” At these auditions, he sexually assaulted the two women.
This man preyed on the hopes and dreams of these young women and violated their dignity.
Ramzan pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault and was sentenced to 18 months for the first charge and two years for the second charge, to be served concurrently. Once again, the justice system failed these women. Each woman should have been granted the justice of seeing him serve a full sentence for the offence committed against each of them as an individual.
Whether a sexual offence is committed repeatedly against one person or once against many, justice demands it be answered in full. Sentences must be served consecutively.
It’s time to put victims first. Sexual offences should never be a two-for-one deal.
Each offence is a distinct harm. Each victim is a whole person. And each act must carry its own consequence.
Justice is not something to be discounted or bundled. It demands full recognition and full accountability for every crime and every victim.
If you agree that sexual predators shouldn’t receive reduced sentences, please take a moment to send a quick email to the Minister of Justice, Sean Fraser: mcu@justice.gc.ca Your email doesn’t need to be long. Two sentences will do: “Please stand with victims of sexual assault by ending reduced sentences for sexual predators. Please support Bill C-246: the Ending Sentence Reductions for Sexual Predators Act.”
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…and so do MP’s who don’t like the CBC