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HOUSE OF COMMONS
CANADA
Maurice Vellacott, MP
Saskatoon-Wanuskewin
Vellacott disturbed that Liberals do not support
protection of children by raising age of sexual consent
For Immediate Release
September 29, 2005
OTTAWA – Conservative Member of Parliament Maurice Vellacott (Saskatoon-Wanuskewin) is
very disturbed that the Liberal government yet again voted against increasing the age of sexual
consent yesterday evening. Parliament voted on Conservative MP Nina Grewal’s motion (M-221) to
raise the age of consent Wednesday evening and the motion was defeated by the combined votes of
Liberal, BQ, and NDP MPs. The vote was 100 in favour and 169 against.
Prior to the vote, Justice Minister Irwin Cotler had sent out a memo urging all MPs to vote against
the measure. “The Justice Minister continues to raise the phony excuse that this motion, and others
like it, would criminalize ‘puppy love’ between young people,” said Vellacott. “This assertion is
completely irresponsible,” Vellacott added. “The vote against this motion was a vote against the
young teen victims of sexual predators.”
“Parents want laws that protect children, not predators,” said Vellacott. “But instead, we have
predators coming to Canada from around the world to take advantage of our weak Liberal laws.”
Canada is increasingly becoming known as a refuge for child predators, according to police and
other experts. Child prostitute Johns, internet child predators, and other sexual perverts all benefit
under the current ambiguous legislation.
“Police and family groups across Canada support this change to the age of consent,” noted Vellacott.
“Can the Minister of Justice give us a decent reason why he is providing an exemption to sexual
predators instead of protecting young Canadians? Sensible Canadians are fed up with his excessively
liberal views.”
“This Liberal government, with their NDP and Bloc allies, has chosen the supposed rights of
predators over the safety of children. What is becoming increasingly clear is that the only way we
will change the justice system is by electing a Conservative government,” said Vellacott.
Motion 221 read as follows: “That, in the opinion of the House, the government should restrict
sexual activity between adolescents and adults by amending the Criminal Code to change the age of
consent from 14 to 16 years of age.”
– 30 –
For further comment, call (613) 992-1966 or 297-2249