“We need to protect our children” Canada’s New Government Urges Senate to Support Age of Protection Legislation

May 07, 2007

OTTAWA - In its continued commitment towards safer streets and communities, Canada’s New Government encourages the Liberal-dominated Senate to pass the age of protection legislation into law as soon as possible. Bill C-22, referred to the Senate on May 4, 2007, is designed to increase the age at which youth can consent to sexual activity, in order to better protect them against sexual exploitation from adult predators.

“It is seldom a day goes by that I don’t hear of another one of our kids being lured into a dangerous situation by some internet predator,” said Goodyear. “We need protection for our children that is in sync with our technological advancements.”

The Age of Protection legislation, as adopted by the House of Commons, proposes to raise the age at which youth can consent to sexual activity from 14 to 16 years of age. To help ensure that teenagers who engage in consensual sexual activity are not criminalized, it includes a close-in-age exemption, which would permit 14- and 15-year-old youth to engage in sexual activity with a partner who is less than five years older.

“This Bill is not about legislating attractions, as the opposition would like you to believe. Protecting our society is paramount and we are serious about getting it done,” commented Goodyear.

The Age of Protection marks an important step toward strengthening our child protection laws and brings Canada’s age of consent into conformity with that of many other like-minded countries. Since taking office, Canada’s New Government has brought forward 12 new justice bills including legislation to restrict conditional sentences, better fight alcohol- and drug impaired-driving, create tougher laws against street racing, and imposes tougher mandatory penalties on members of organized crime, gangs and those who use firearms to commit crimes.