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WASHINGTON, October 28, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) – While President Bush issued the proclamation of Protection from Pornography Week for this week in the U.S., October 26- November 1, Canada’s Official Opposition recognized the week by attacking Canada’s shameful allowance of some child pornography.  “Pornography can have debilitating effects on communities, marriages, families, and children. During Protection From Pornography Week, we commit to take steps to confront the dangers of pornography,” said Bush Saturday. “The effects of pornography are particularly pernicious with respect to children.  We are vigorously prosecuting and severely punishing those who would harm our children.”  Meanwhile in Canada on Tuesday, the Canadian Alliance stepped up its fight for the protection of children by putting forward a motion that calls upon the government to toughen child pornography legislation by eliminating all defences for possession of child pornography that allow for the exploitation of children.  Alliance MP Myron Thompson is the sponsor of the motion.  Joining Mr. Thompson at an Ottawa news conference was the officer in charge of the Sex Crimes Unit for the Toronto Police Service, Staff Inspector Bruce Smollet, as well as Alliance Senior Justice Critic Vic Toews and MP Dr. Grant Hill.  Mr. Toews commented that during House of Commons Justice Committee study of Bill C-20, the Liberal child pornography bill, he has seen widespread agreement that the proposed legislation is far too vague to be effective in fighting child pornography.

“We’ve seen a parade of witnesses come to the committee to criticize the approach that C-20 is taking,” said Toews.  “The Liberals have to go back to the drawing board and come up with a bill that eliminates all legal loopholes for child pornographers.”  Dr. Hill also noted that Bill C-20 is silent on raising the age of consent for sexual activity in Canada, leaving another legislative gap for those who would exploit children.  “The age of consent must be raised from 14 to at least 16.  As it currently stands, Canada has one of the lowest ages of consent in the Western world,” said Hill.  “This is unacceptable, and could have been easily addressed in C-20, including a close-in-age exemption we see in other jurisdictions, to ensure that teenagers are not criminalized.”  See President Bush’s full proclamation:  https://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/10/20031025-1.html