Age of Consent - Opportunity Missed

Fearful of an election, the Senate caved in and passed the Conservatives' so-called "crime bill" yesterday without any amendments.

This is really a pity, because the bill cried out for amendments. Even if you don't agree with raising the legal age of consent for sexual activity from 14 to 16, it seems obvious to me that this would have been a good time to remove the discriminatory provisions of Section 159 of the Criminal Code which set the age of consent for anal intercourse at 18. The Ontario and Quebec courts have already ruled that this section is discriminatory, so why couldn't this anti-gay provision have been modified to set the age of consent for all sexual activity at a uniform point. Because our politicians - both Liberal and Conservative - don't like the "ick factor" of gay sex, is my suspicion. Yet another opportunity wasted in this dismal wreck of a Parliament.

Recommend this Post