As Parliament opens in Canada for the fall session, the Governor General (The Queen's Representative in Canada) delivers the throne speech.
What's in it for combating child sexual abuse? Well, nothing new, just a reiteration of initiatives already announced:
Cyberbullying legislation that prevents non-consensual distribution of "intimate images."
I suspect the word 'prevent' is much too strong. It would be almost impossible to prevent, but it can be 'discouraged' with significant enough penalties. I would like to have seen a law making anyone videoing a crime an accessory to that crime unless intervening was impossible or would put them in significant danger.
Legislation to prevent child sexual predators from receiving a single sentence for multiple crimes.
The end of concurrent sentencing for child sex offenders was announced last month, much to my delight.
Legislation to prevent the most dangerous criminals from ever being released from prison.
As with the end of concurrent sentencing, anything that keeps pedophiles off the streets and away from our children is a good thing.
I would like to have seen a Royal Commission into child sex abuse like the one in Australia, but Prime Minister Harper is loath to call commissions, so I'm not holding my breath.
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| Prime Minister Harper and Governor General David Johnston |
What's in it for combating child sexual abuse? Well, nothing new, just a reiteration of initiatives already announced:
Cyberbullying legislation that prevents non-consensual distribution of "intimate images."
I suspect the word 'prevent' is much too strong. It would be almost impossible to prevent, but it can be 'discouraged' with significant enough penalties. I would like to have seen a law making anyone videoing a crime an accessory to that crime unless intervening was impossible or would put them in significant danger.
Legislation to prevent child sexual predators from receiving a single sentence for multiple crimes.
The end of concurrent sentencing for child sex offenders was announced last month, much to my delight.
Legislation to prevent the most dangerous criminals from ever being released from prison.
As with the end of concurrent sentencing, anything that keeps pedophiles off the streets and away from our children is a good thing.
I would like to have seen a Royal Commission into child sex abuse like the one in Australia, but Prime Minister Harper is loath to call commissions, so I'm not holding my breath.
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