A collective group of advocacy organizations, healthcare entities, and a telecommunications firm have united to urge the federal government to bring back a bill aimed at safeguarding children from online exploitation. This coalition convened in Ottawa on National Child Day to emphasize the need for swift action in addressing online bullying and abuse by presenting their request for legislation to be tabled in Parliament before the upcoming New Year.
During the event, Andrea Chrysanthou, the chair of the board for Children First Canada and a member of the coalition, expressed concern about the pervasive risks faced by children across the country, emphasizing the urgent necessity for protective measures. The coalition, which also includes Telus, renowned children’s hospitals like Sick Kids and CHEO, and other child advocacy groups such as the Child & Youth Advocacy Centres of Canada and the Amanda Todd Legacy Society, emphasized the critical nature of safeguarding children online, framing it as essential to Canada’s identity and future.
In a statement, Dr. Margot Burnell, the president of the Canadian Medical Association and another coalition member, highlighted the significance of online child protection in shaping a better future for the nation. The coalition’s efforts are encapsulated in the “Countdown for Kids” campaign, a 40-day initiative aimed at pressuring the government to reintroduce the legislation promptly and rename it the “Online Safety Act.”
The proposed legislation, previously known as Bill C-63, the Online Harms Act, was designed to combat various online threats to children, including cyberbullying, self-harm encouragement, sexual exploitation, and hate speech. Despite initial attempts to introduce protective legislation, the bill faced setbacks and was not enacted before subsequent federal elections.
The coalition is advocating for two key components in the legislation: the establishment of an independent regulatory body to enforce compliance by online platforms and the imposition of a binding duty on digital platforms to prevent and address online harms targeting children. It is crucial, the coalition stresses, to prioritize the protection of children given the alarming rise in online child sexual exploitation incidents and cyberbullying cases reported by Canadian authorities.
As the government contemplates its next steps regarding online harms legislation, the coalition continues to push for swift action to safeguard children online and prevent further harm to vulnerable individuals.
