As some of you already know, I’m a big supporter of Canada moving to raise the age of sexual consent from 14 to 16. Under the Criminal Code of Canada, it is currently not a criminal offense for an adult to engage in sexual activity with a person aged 14 years or older if the young person consents to sexual activity as long as the adult is not in a position of trust or authority.
Canada’s age of consent to sexual activity offers Canadian youth no protection from sexual exploitation.
The conservatives have now put forth a motion that the age of sexual consent should be raised by the House of Commons from 14 to 16.
The bill has finally passed first stages and there is sufficient support for raising the minimum age for sexual consent to 16.
I would like to see the age of sexual consent in Canada raised to 18, with an near-age exemption in place, though I’m happy that they may finally be raising it from 14 to 16.
The bill includes a near-age exemption of five years, which means that a 14-year-old could still have a sexual partner aged up to 19, and a 15-year-old could have a partner up to 20 years old. They state that it is to avoid criminalizing sexual experimentation by teens with their peers.
I don’t agree with this. I personally think the exemption should be two years. What would a 20 year old see in a 15 year old girl or a 19 year old see in a 14 year old girl? At 14 a girl is still very much a child. They are unable to perceive when they are being manipulated and victimized. A 14 or 15 year old can just as easily be manipulated by a 19 or 20 year old man as a 14 year old could be by a 25 year old.
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13 responses so far ↓
Viola Jaynes
// Mar 27, 2007 at 3:58 pm
Rose, I did not realize that. Unbelievable!
Christine
// Mar 27, 2007 at 4:31 pm
I didn’t realize the legal age in Canada was that young. If I’m not mistaken here in the U.S. it’s 18 for a minor. I agree at 14, young women are very impressionable and very easily manipulated. I would definetly support , raising the age limit to protect our children. That seems very criminal to me to have the age limit so low, if that makes any sense.
Rose DesRochers
// Mar 27, 2007 at 7:04 pm
Christine that depends where you live in the US.
In some parts of the US like Arkansas, Kentucky, Nevada and Pennsylvania it is 16. In Wisconsin, Tennessee and California is is 18. In Colorado and Louisiana it is 17 and in South Carolina it is 14 (f) 16 (m).
Dwayne
// Mar 27, 2007 at 7:05 pm
Here in the US the legal limit is 18 and a age claus for anyone between 16 and 18. But if they are under 16 and get caught, I have seen some get 10 yrs for it. And they well deserve it.
Marcia
// Mar 27, 2007 at 7:44 pm
I’m with you on this one, Rose!
Gene Bach
// Mar 27, 2007 at 7:46 pm
14…16…it’s still pathetic. I agree with you 100% that it should be 18 and no “near age” exemption. I have three daughters and God help the person who decides they are fair game until they are an adult.
What a degenerate people we are becoming.
Hammer
// Mar 27, 2007 at 8:47 pm
It sounds like Canadian politicians want to keep their options open.
Teena in Toronto
// Mar 27, 2007 at 9:58 pm
I hadn’t heard about this. Life’s been way too busy lately!
nick
// Mar 28, 2007 at 3:52 pm
14!? 14! holy cow! how could they justify that? no offense but I’m glad I’m not in Canada. 16 is still to young, though. When I have kids they will not have sex until they are married and that won’t be untill they are 40!
David
// Mar 28, 2007 at 4:32 pm
14?? thats got to be kidding.. In my part of the world, its 18 for a woman to get married..
D
HMTKSteve
// Mar 28, 2007 at 7:22 pm
14 is a bit young. Is that a throwback to the pioneering days?
Here in CT USA the age is 16. I don’t have a problem with 16 but, I see a lot of 16 year olds and I don’t see what any guy sees in them!
Katia
// Mar 29, 2007 at 4:34 am
Wow. Had no idea it was /14/. That’s too young. I think sixteen is a good age - frankly, criminalizing young people for having sex with other young people is wrong - they will do it anyway. A near-age clause of 3 years, like I believe we have where I live, is plenty - five is a bit extreme.
Steve Reichard
// Mar 30, 2007 at 12:32 am
Yes I hope this bill does pass. I like you my friend would like to see it raised to 18 but 16 is at least a good step in the right direction.
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