Opinion
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November 17, 2016 (REAL Women) — The Trudeau government has introduced legislation to lower the age of consent from 18 years of age to 16 years of age, for homosexuals. This amendment supposedly is to “ensure respect for equality rights” according to Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould, since the age of consent for heterosexual sex is set at 16 years of age.

It is not the issue of “equality” that should be a concern, but rather, the fact that the amendment may be harmful to adolescents. This is because anal penetration carries different risks than vaginal sex and can leave adolescent males unprotected from exploitation and medical risks.

This “equality” is not a new issue. It has been argued before in the courts by defence lawyers for older males having sex with under-age boys.  In a number of cases some judges have enthusiastically jumped on the equality bandwagon stating that the discrepancy in the age of consent between homosexual and vaginal sex infringes the guarantee of equality of adolescents.  However, the intent of the law has always been to protect children from exploitation by prosecuting the adults involved, which took priority over concerns about equality.

Anal intercourse is one of the riskiest behaviours associated with the transmission of AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases. Given the interest of some adults in having sex with youngsters, which is well documented, why then are those who should be protecting them, compromising children’s physical and emotional health?

In 1986-87 NDP MP Svend Robinson proposed that this age of consent for anal intercourse be reduced. The Attorney General, The Honourable Raymon Hnatyshyn, the Minister of Justice at that time, stated that there were factors that should be taken into account before lowering the age of consent.  In particular, he stated:

Medical evidence does indicate different kinds of psychological or physical harm may attach to different types of intercourse for young persons. Medical experts are not certain at what age sexual preference is established, and many argue that the age is fixed only in the later teen years.  Also the question here is that heightened danger of contracting Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome or other sexually transmitted disease from anal intercourse since the tissues are more susceptible to physical damage from penetration.

Despite the court rulings, it is significant that in the intervening years, no government, either Liberal or Conservative, amended the Criminal Code to lower the age of consent because of the risks to adolescents.

Under pressure from the LGBT community, Justin Trudeau ignores these risks, and has automatically assumed the politically correct position on the issue.

Reprinted with permission from REAL Women of Canada.