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MAJORITY OF CANADIANS WANT STRONGER CHILD PORN LAWS AND HIGHER AGE OF CONSENT

86% Disagreed With the Recent Acquittal of John Robin Sharpe on Possession and Distribution Charges

VANCOUVER, May 31, 2002 (LSN.ca) - Canadian Alliance Justice Critic, Vic Toews, joined today with Focus on the Family Canada to announce the results of a nationwide poll concerning child pornography legislation and the age of sexual consent. The POLLARA poll, commissioned this month by Focus on the Family, showed that:

* 86% of respondents disagreed with the recent ruling that acquitted John Robin Sharpe of possessing and distributing child pornography on the grounds that his writings depicting violence and sex involving adults with children had some artistic merit.
* 93% of respondents said that strengthening child pornography legislation should be a priority for the federal government.
* 80% of respondents believed that the federal government should raise the age of sexual consent from 14 years to at least 16.

"The results of the survey confirm what I have been hearing from Canadians who have been calling my offices and who have been writing letters and signing petitions," said Toews. "It is time that the Liberal government fall into step with the rest of Canadians and make the strengthening of our laws against child pornography and the raising of the age of sexual consent a priority."

Focus on the Family Canada launched a petition drive last month to encourage Members of Parliament "to take all necessary steps to ensure that all materials which promote or glorify pedophilia or sado-masochistic activities involving children are outlawed". Toews attended the launch of the petition campaign in Ottawa last month, and has already received petitions with over 1700 signatures in both his Ottawa and constituency offices.

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