Honourable senators, my question is for the Government Representative.

The Trudeau government has repeatedly promised to act against what it calls online harms. That promise was in the Liberal Party’s last electoral platform. It was also reiterated when the government recently indicated that its online harms legislation would be a priority. In this context, here’s a quote from 20-year-old pop singer Billie Eilish from this week:

I started watching porn when I was like 11. I think it really destroyed my brain and I feel incredibly devastated that I was exposed to so much porn.

The first few times I, you know, had sex, I was not saying no to things that were not good. It was because I thought that’s what I was supposed to be attracted to.

She said porn “destroyed my brain.” I think we should all reflect on that tragic sentence.

Senator Gold, as the government contemplates online harms legislation, could you please let us know if the obvious harm online — pornography for minors — will be included in the legislation? If not, why not?

Senator Gold, I appreciate your prudence, but please note that some countries have already taken action to protect children from online pornography or will be doing so in the months to come. Germany has started blocking sites that do not have age verification, France is heading in that direction, and Great Britain will most likely be taking action soon. I introduced a bill about this in the Senate. Unfortunately, Canada has not done anything.

Here’s my question: Is the government prepared to support Bill S-210 or to introduce its own bill to ensure that online harm does not destroy children’s brains?