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Canadian Parliament to Vote on Motion to Raise Age of Sexual Consent Next Week

Canada’s age of consent law among the lowest in the world

OTTAWA, September 23, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Canadian Members of Parliament will vote on a motion next week that seeks to raise the age of consensual sex. The motion, M-221, introduced in March by British Columbia Conservative MP Nina Grewal, seeks to amend the Criminal Code to change the age of consent from 14 to 16.

Many Liberal, Bloc Québécois and NDP MPs have already said they would oppose the motion although the Tories are hopeful many Liberals will support the measure. The Liberal government has instructed its Members to vote against the motion as they say it denies youth the right to engage in sexual activity should they choose to do so.

Gwen Landolt of REAL Women of Canada told LifeSiteNews.com the strongest opposition to the bill is coming from the homosexual community which is very influential in the Liberal, Bloc and NDP parties.

Even if the Conservatives lose the vote Wednesday, Tory justice critic Vic Toews said the party will keep the issue alive in the future.
 
“This amendment is consistent with the recommendations of all provincial governments and various stakeholder groups, including REAL Women of Canada,” Mrs. Grewal stated in a release. “The Liberals have repeatedly rejected calls to increase the age of consent. The position taken by Paul Martin’s government defies reason,” she emphasized. “How can they claim 14-year-olds are not old enough to make informed decisions about driving, smoking, marriage, and voting, but are informed enough to make a decision regarding something so potentially life-altering as sex?”

Under current law, an adult of any age can legally have sexual intercourse with a child as young as 14 years old as long as the relationship is deemed consensual. Internationally, Canada has established a reputation as a sex tourism “hot spot” and an attractive destination for pedophiles.

In 1987, the Progressive Conservative Mulroney government reduced the age of consent for sex in the Criminal Code to age 14, and the Liberal government has since refused to amend this law. In 1999, the provincial Attorneys General called for the age of consent to be raised to 16 to help combat sexual exploitation of children. No action on the part of the Liberals was ever taken.

“With our lax laws, Canada is becoming a sex tourism destination for Americans, as demonstrated by a Texas man who lured a 14-year-old boy to an Ottawa hotel room [in March],” Grewal continued. “Canada’s age of consent laws are among the lowest in the world, including lower than those of the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and most American states.”

A poll conducted in 2002 found that 80% of Canadians believe that the federal government should raise the age of sexual consent from 14 years to at least 16. “We need to act now, before more innocent lives are ruined,” Grewal concluded.

Canada has a dismal arrest and conviction rate for persons exposed by international child porn task forces to likely be engaged in the use and dissemination of illegal child porn. U.S. and Interpol officials have often expressed dismay at the great difficulty in obtaining any convictions in Canada in their efforts to stop the international spread of the material.

Canadian pro-family groups are encouraging Canadians to immediately telephone every Liberal Member of Parliament to insist that they vote for M-221. It is not necessary to talk to the MPs directly. Messages left with staff and even messages left after hours on the MPs answering services are given serious attention by most MPs. Always leave your name, address and telephone number with the message.

Liberal Members of Parliament contact info:
http://www.liberal.ca/province_e.aspx?site=mp&language=eng&province=all

See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
International Group Urges Canada to Raise Age of Consent, Urges Against Legalizing Prostitution
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/mar/05031406.html
Broad Spectrum Of Support For Raising Age Of Consent In Canada
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2002/aug/02082601.html
CANADA AGAIN FAILS TO MAKE ARRESTS IN INTERNATIONAL CHILD PORN RING BUST
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2001/dec/01120303.html

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