QUESTION PERIOD — Justice
Online Harm
December 10, 2024
Senator Gold, I feel compelled to follow up on Senator Petitclerc’s question.
I am extremely disappointed that the government is failing to address the acute mental health issues arising from too much exposure to social media. An entire generation is at risk. However, Bill C-63 contains only one measure to prevent sexual exploitation images from being posted on the internet, images that are already illegal.
Why not do more? Canada is lagging behind all of the major Western countries that are examining this issue. This is a really serious societal problem.
I’m fully aware that this is a very serious societal problem. I disagree with the assertion that no one is giving it any thought, here or elsewhere. All I can say, colleague, is that there is currently no bill before Parliament dealing with this particular problem.
Once again, I commit to forwarding your questions and those of Senator Petitclerc, but for the moment, there is no such bill before Parliament.
Then again, I’m the sponsor of a bill at report stage in the House of Commons that proposes to work on one small part of this rather pointed problem, to at least protect children from exposure to pornography. However, the government opposes the bill.
I’m aware of your bill, which has been studied in the Senate. You’re also aware of the government’s response. The government isn’t saying that the principle of the bill is unimportant or that it disagrees with it.
