June 12, 2015 – Riverton, NS – Department of Justice.
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Peter MacKay, today met with students, parents and staff of Dr. W. A. MacLeod Consolidated School to discuss the dangers of cyberbullying and to raise awareness of measures the Government has taken to help keep Canadians, in particular youth, 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 laws 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 parents and youth that includes information, advice, and tools needed to help identify, prevent and stop cyberbullying. In addition, the Government also 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 young Canadians. This includes introducing Bill C-26, the Tougher Penalties for Child Predators Act; introducing 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.
Follow Department of Justice Canada on Twitter (@JusticeCanadaEn), join us on Facebook or visit our YouTube channel.
