QUESTION PERIOD — Privy Council Office
Age-Verification Legislation
June 13, 2023
Senator Gold, according to a disturbing investigative report published in La Presse this weekend, 45% of the videos on Montreal-based Pornhub contain depictions of assault, choking or gagging, and 97% of the targets of these acts are women. The reporter interviewed a young man who became addicted to pornography at the age of eight and another whose sexual behaviour was impacted by his consumption of pornography in which girls were being beaten.
Senator Gold, why isn’t the government publicly supporting my Bill S-210, An Act to restrict young persons’ online access to sexually explicit material? This bill, now before the House of Commons, would require age verification.
Thank you for the question and for your commitment to this important issue. Congratulations on your hard work and on the publication of the document, which I read with interest. As you said, esteemed colleague, Bill S-210 is now in the other place and will be on the Orders of the Day for consideration. I’ve no doubt there will be an interesting and thorough debate, at which point the government will be in a position to share its stance on the matter. In the meantime, the government has communicated its intentions in the context of our study of Bill C-11. The Government of Canada is committed to continuing to deal with the online safety issue, including through legislation. As details become available, I will update this chamber.
I realize the government is considering it. Officials may be doing likewise, but governments in some jurisdictions, such as Louisiana, Germany, France and Great Britain, have taken action to protect children by passing legislation. Why is our government silent on such a serious public health issue?
Thank you for the question. With all due respect, the government is not silent. The government is taking this matter very seriously and considering possible courses of action. As I said, once debate on your bill begins, the government will make its position known.
