Addressing the Canadian Age of Sexual Consent Published by Rose DesRochers Submitted: 23 April,2005 Canada's government is failing to protect our children from sexual predators. Under the Criminal Code of Canada it is currently not a criminal offence for an adult to engage in sexual activity with a person aged 14 years or older if the young person consents to sexual activity, as long as the adult is not in a position of trust or authority. Canada’s age of consent to sexual activity offers Canadian youth no protection from sexual exploitation. This has resulted in Canada becoming a preferred destination for sexual predators to prey on our innocent children. There is a need to protect out children and this should be the Governments highest priority. In 1999 the Department of Justice's consultation paper view that the current age of consent was too low. In 2002 Over 40,000 people sent a letter to Justice Minister Cauchon asking that the age of consent be raised to 18. The Canadian Police Association has twice requested the age to be raised. In early November 2004 , HELENA GUERGIS, MP prepared a petition asking the Martin Liberals to raise the age of sexual consent from 14 to 16 years of age. A copy of her petition is available in each of her offices. You can read MP HELENA GUERGIS thoughts at the following website. http://www.helenaguergis.com/view-Nov22_04.htm It was in 1987, the Mulroney government reduced the age of consent for sex in the Criminal Code to age 14. Since that date the Liberal government has refused to amend this law and raise the age of consent to 18. Our government is sending an open invitation for predators to focus on our children. Might I add now if a man sleeps with a 13 year old he is put away for rape.What does the difference of one year make as far as maturity ? Something In Canada law is seriously wrong. Because of this low age a growing number of men are now targeting Canadian children for pornography and sex purposes. C.A.S.E. has started a petition concerning asking the government to up the age of consent to 18.Click Here for Petition on the Age of Consent As a Canadian I'm requesting you to please write to the Parliament of Canada to amend the Criminal Code of Canada and raise the age of consent for sexual activity from 14 years to 16 years of age. Please write to: Minster Paul Martin Prime Minister's Office 80 Wellington Street, 2nd Floor Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A2 Tel: (613) 992-4211 Fax: (613) 941-6900 The Honourable Anne McLellan Minister of Justice Justice Building 284 Wellington Street Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H8 Tel: (613) 992-4621 Fax (613) 990-7255 Your MP House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6 About the Author Rose is the founder of http://www.todays-woman.net  a community for men and women over 18, where writers/poets/columnists meet and exchange ideas, contest, rate and review and help each other succeed in the writing industry.