Thank you. Mr. Speaker, late last fall I met with my Justice counterparts in Regina. One of the items that we addressed was this very issue. We talked about how we could do more to help support those who have had their intimate photos shared on social media sources without their consent.
While the Internet has brought positive emotional, economic and social benefits to society, it also provides some users with a weapon to inflict real harm. We have seen those results in several heartbreaking cases over this past year. Typically, the destructive actions start with someone sharing intimate photos of a person, with the intention of humiliating them or to seek revenge. The victims we have heard about recently have been female, but it can affect anyone. The distribution of these images is so rapid and pervasive, it can have devastating consequences for the victim.
The Criminal Code currently has provisions relating to child pornography. While this is one means of dealing with this issue, when the victim is a teenager, this remedy doesn’t address all of the situations. For adults, exchanging nude photos is, under most circumstances, illegal activity. There are several sections of the Criminal Code that can be used in some situations if they contain certain additional elements. Currently, when police throughout Canada receive complaints on this issue, there is very little they can do, unless it is accompanied by additional elements that may bring it within the existing criminal offence.
The taking and sharing of nude photos of people under the age of 18 is a violation of Canada’s child pornography laws; however, the child pornography section of the Criminal Code of Canada is intended to prevent the sexual exploitation of young people and is not necessarily focused on the issue of non-consensual distribution of intimate images.
Nova Scotia has recently requested that a new criminal offence be created as a hybrid to cover the publishing, printing, distributing, circulating, selling, advertising or making available, including visual recording, intimate images for malicious purposes. In April the Ministers responsible for Justice from across the country met in Ottawa and directed the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Cyber Crime Working Group to expedite its efforts in this area and bring its recommendations forward to the federal Minister as soon as the work is complete.
Later this month western Premiers will be discussing the steps being taken to recognize and address bullying and cyberbullying attacks on young people by their peers, and will be raising this important issue with the Council of Federation meeting in July.
As discussed with our colleagues on the other side of the House last week, I and my Cabinet colleagues are in support of this motion and will be voting in favour today. Our Legislature could stand with those across Canada, and the most recent being Saskatchewan, to support a legislative tool that will enable the justice system to deal with the malicious and destructive behaviours that are not yet able to be fully addressed. Thank you.