CALGARY, Alberta (Reuters) -- Seeking to crack down on sexual predators in the era of the Internet, Canada's government brought in legislation Thursday that would raise the legal age of consent for sex to 16 from an unusually young 14.
Justice Minister Vic Toews said changing the law will bring Canada's standards into line with those in several other countries, and he complained Canada's relatively low age of consent has attracted sexual criminals from more restrictive countries.
But the proposal, first outlined in April, will also allow youngsters to have consensual sex with people up to five years older or younger, even if that means one partner is aged 14 or 15.
"Our goal in this legislation is not to criminalize teenage youth who may be involved in sexual activity with their peers," Toews told reporters in Ottawa. "It is to make the law more effective in protecting vulnerable young people from adult sexual predators."
Consent standards vary around the world in terms of age, gender and sexual orientation. In most U.S. states, the age of sexual consent is at least 16 and in some cases -- Arizona is one example -- it is as old as 18.
Toews predicted that the move would find broad support among Canadians, with police forces across the country and with lawmakers from all political stripes.
However, some advocacy groups, including the Canadian Federation for Sexual Health, have already expressed concern about changing the law in this way.
The federation, formerly Planned Parenthood, has said there is no evidence that raising the age of consent will improve protection for young people, and warned it may discourage young people from seeking out birth control options or other assistance.
Toews introduced legislation in the House of Commons Thursday, the last day of proceedings before Parliament's summer break, so debate will start only after Parliament resumes on September 18.
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Way to go canada. Although now Malach cant rape my cousin. Im sorry Malach.
14 comments:
If I read this right, this would allow people to have sex with another within 5 years of their age if under 19. Hence a 19 year old could plow a 14 year old, but a 34 year old could not have consesual sex with anyone younger than 18.
I'm impressed that Canada's sexual predators obey the law. Our sexual predators just break it.
I know, Canada could follow our lead and create a law called "The Patriot Act of the Great White North, Eh?" Then they could force internet companies to turn over all documentation on terrorists, criminals and sexual predators.
Oh, but that would invade privacy. Ooooo! Privacy is over-rated. If people actually knew how little privacy we've had for the past 30 years, they'd cry. We watched, tagged, labeled and catagorized. I'd have SpaceFarmer confirm this fact, but he died.
THEY killed him when they found out he was on our side. You see, he worked for THEM. But that's another post entirely and not fit for this blog...
or is it????
Yeah, privacy is a joke. Right FBI?
Well teen do what they want behind the eyes so... well good for obedient sexual predators o-0
Malach,
Not funny asshole.
We'll get you.
The FBI is not Google. We didn't post that.
That's why Dr. Murk was so eager to get a flight to Ottawa before September 18th! I knew that talk about a Celene Dion concert was just a ploy.
Question, why would both the FBI and Google respond right after the other? They are in bed with each other.
Queston, Why is google or the FBI not advertising their own websites?
Blame Canada ...Blame Canada! (j/k of course) ~giggles~
Well well well, AV, I wondered how long it would take you to come up with a response to all my barbs.
For those of you keeping score, it is still 86 to 0 in favor of Dr. Murk. (Unfortunately, Angry Veteran forgot to read the rules that insinuating that one's sworn nemesis is a sexual predator does not, in fact, count for a point).
Now, if you really want to go down the route of slander, that's fine. You'll be wishing for your youngers days as Father Porter's favorite altar boy when I'm done with you...
87 - 0
Dr. Murk once dated Gary Glitter.
Does that get me some type of prize?
I don't think the investigating officer ever described the anal rape as "dating."
Oh this is getting out of hand...
Oooookay...
You know, you guys are making my point. You are Liberal Name Callers.
I have a few disagreements with you and you start acusing me of being a rapist?
Yeah, you make sense...
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