Ted Falk, Member of Parliament for Provencher, has seconded a bill to protect to make important changes to the Criminal Code to counter the sexual exploitation of minors.
Introduced by Conservative MP Pierre Paul-Hus, Bill C-277, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and An Act to amend the Criminal Code (exploitation and trafficking in persons), would strengthen existing federal law by implementing the following changes:
- Allowing the implementation of the consecutive sentencing provision for human trafficking;
- Adding crimes of sexual exploitation to the proceeds of forfeiture mechanism;
- Eliminating preliminary inquiries related to the prosecution of sexual exploitation of minors and human trafficking offences; and
- Requiring the Minister of Justice to provide law enforcement with more effective legal tools to obtain evidence of sexual crimes committed against minors and committed online in cyberspace.
“Every day, hundreds of children are sexually exploited online,” said Falk. “To get justice for survivors, law enforcement authorities need better tools to respond and obtain evidence of crimes committed online.”
The proposed changes were recommended unanimously by the Select Committee on the Sexual Exploitation of Minors of the Quebec National Assembly. Organizations engaged in the fight against child sexual exploitation have also lent their support to the bill.
“Ending child sexual exploitation requires urgent action,” Falk added. “Securing the safety of our youngest Canadians is something all Canadians can get behind.”
