MPs’ bill to change child pornography terminology moves closer to law – Vernon News

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A bill to replace the term “child pornography” with “child sexual abuse and exploitation material” in federal laws has entered the final stages of Senate review — the last step before it becomes law.

North Okanagan-Shuswap MP Mel Arnold introduced Bill C-291 in 2022, a bill that passed unanimously in the House of Commons last year after being authored by Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo MP Frank Caputo.

Just last week, the bill was reviewed by the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs and passed with unanimous support and without amendments. This means it now moves on to third reading in the Senate.

If Bill C-291 passes third reading without amendment, it will go to royal assent and become law.

Of the 212 bills introduced since 2021, only seven have received royal assent to become law.

“Child sexual abuse material is a growing problem in Canada,” Arnold told the Senate committee. “Canadians expect Parliament to take the steps, large and small, that are needed to address the problems of child sexual abuse and exploitation.”

In response to a question about the importance of the bill, Caputo told the committee it is a step in the right direction.

“This is a small step on a long journey, and part of that journey is recognizing how serious sexual crimes are,” he said.

“Furthermore, in my opinion, we as a society and as a legal system need to fundamentally change the way we think about sexual crimes.”

Arnold said he is very pleased that this bill has received unanimous support in both houses of Parliament.

“Child sexual abuse and exploitation is a growing problem in Canada, and I will continue to work with MP Caputo and all MPs who are committed to strengthening our child protection laws,” he said.