May 21, 2015 – Mississauga, ON – Department of Justice.
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Peter MacKay, accompanied by Parliamentary Secretary Bob Dechert, met today with students of Philopateer Christian College to discuss the dangers of cyberbullying and to raise awareness of measures the Government has taken to help keep Canadians safe from online crime.
New legislation, the Protecting Canadians from Online Crime Act, which came into force in March, makes it a criminal offence to share an intimate image of a person without their consent. The new measures will help law enforcement officials better protect young Canadians from cyberbullying and other forms of online exploitation.
To raise awareness of the tremendous harm cyberbullying can cause, the Government also launched the anti-cyberbullying campaign Stop Hating Online in January 2014. This is a comprehensive resource for youth and parents that includes information, advice, and tools to help identify, prevent, and stop cyberbullying. In addition, the Government launched a video to demonstrate the profound impact that words can have: an interactive YouTube experience, #WordsHurt.
The Government of Canada has introduced several measures to stand up for victims of crime and help ensure the safety of all Canadians, especially those who are most vulnerable. This includes introducing Bill C-26, the Tougher Penalties for Child Predators Act; passing Bill C-32, the Victims Bill of Rights Act, and bringing forward a new law to make the reporting of child pornography by Internet service providers mandatory.
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