Government of Canada Highlights Royal Assent of Bill to Help Law Enforcement Protect Victims of Online Crime

VAUGHAN, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Dec. 10, 2014) - Today, at a roundtable of professionals who work closely with child and youth victims of crime, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Peter MacKay - joined by Minister of Veterans Affairs and honourary member of the Canadian Crime Victim Foundation Julian Fantino - discussed ways of better protecting children and youth from online crime. The Ministers discussed how Bill C-13, the Protecting Canadians from Online Crime Act, will give police the modernized tools they need to protect Canadians, in particular children and youth, from acts of cyberbullying. As well, they discussed child protection and victims' rights. York Regional Police Deputy Chief André Crawford also participated in the roundtable. Bill C-13 received Royal Assent yesterday and will come into force in March 2015.

Quick Facts

• The Protecting Canadians from Online Crime Act will:
  • Prohibit the non-consensual distribution of intimate images;
  • Empower a court to order the removal of intimate images from the Internet;
  • Permit the court to order forfeiture of the computer, cell phone or other device used in the offence;
  • Provide for reimbursement to victims for costs incurred in removing the intimate image from the Internet; and
  • Empower the court to make an order to prevent someone from distributing intimate images.

• Bill C-13 modernizes existing investigative powers (warrants and other judicial orders) to enable police - subject to prior judicial oversight - to obtain electronic evidence from the Internet and other new technologies.

• Bill C-13 comes into force three months after the day it received Royal Assent.
• The Government of Canada worked closely with the provinces and territories in developing the report and recommendations on which this legislation is closely based.

• In January 2014, the Government launched the anti-cyberbullying national awareness campaign, Stop Hating Online, to raise awareness among Canadians of the impact of cyberbullying and how this behaviour amounts to criminal activity. The Government also launched Canada.ca/StopHatingOnline, a comprehensive resource for parents and youth that includes information, advice and tools needed to identify, prevent and stop cyberbullying.

• The Government is also supporting the development of a number of school-based projects to prevent bullying, including cyberbullying, as part of $10 million in funding through Public Safety Canada that was committed in 2012 towards new crime prevention projects.

Quotes

"I am very pleased to announce that Bill C-13 has received Royal Assent. Our Government is committed to ensuring that our children are safe from online predators and from online exploitation. The measures contained in this legislation will help police to investigate and remedy online harassment and exploitation."

Peter MacKay

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

"Our Government is committed to ensuring the safety of our children by providing law enforcement with the tools it needs to protect Canadian youth against the some of the most heinous forms of victimization. Our new cyberbullying legislation will hold perpetrators accountable and enable police to better protect all Canadians, including our most vulnerable citizens - our children and grandchildren - from acts of cyberbullying and other forms of online exploitation."

Julian Fantino

Minister of Veterans Affairs Canada

"York Regional Police is pleased to support legislation that will protect children and youth from being victimized online. Such behaviour is unacceptable and has serious consequences that can destroy lives and it clearly demands a stronger criminal justice response."

André Crawford

Deputy Chief of York Regional Police

Related Products

• Fact Sheet: Privacy Protection and the Protecting Canadians from Online Crime Act
• Backgrounder: Modernizing the Criminal Code
• Myths and Facts: Bill C-13, Protecting Canadians from Online Crime Act

Associated Links

• Canada.ca/StopHatingOnline
• Government Introduces Legislation to Crack Down on Cyberbullying
• Statement from Ministers Blaney and MacKay on Bullying Awareness Week
• NeedHelpNow.ca
• Cybertip.ca

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