Canada: No sex please until we're 16

[Janice]

CALGARY, Alberta (Reuters) -- Seeking to crack down on sexual predators in the era of the Internet, Canada's government brought in legislation Thursday would raise the legal age of consent for sex to 16 from an unusually young 14.

Justice Minister Vic Toews said changing the law will bring Canada's standards into line with those in several other countries, and he complained Canada's relatively low age of consent has attracted sexual criminals from more restrictive countries.

But the proposal, first outlined in April, will also allow youngsters to have consensual sex with people up to five years older or younger, even if that means one partner is aged 14 or 15.

"Our goal in this legislation is not to criminalize teenage youth who may be involved in sexual activity with their peers," Toews told reporters in Ottawa. "It is to make the law more effective in protecting vulnerable young people from adult sexual predators."

Consent standards vary around the world in terms of age, gender and sexual orientation. In most U.S. states, the age of sexual consent is at least 16 and in some cases -- Arizona is one example -- it is as old as 18.

Toews predicted that the move would find broad support among Canadians, with police forces across the country and with lawmakers from all political stripes.

However, some advocacy groups, including the Canadian Federation for Sexual Health, have already expressed concern about changing the law in this way.

The federation, formerly Planned Parenthood, has said there is no evidence that raising the age of consent will improve protection for young people, and warned it may discourage young people from seeking out birth control options or other assistance.

Toews introduced legislation in the House of Commons Thursday, the last day of proceedings before Parliament's summer break, so debate will start only after Parliament resumes on September 18.

[Terrell]

I think that 16 is a sensible age for the age of consent, though the laws should be carefully crafted with Romeo and Juliet type of exceptions so as to protect teens from sexual exploitation by adults, but not be abused by parents who don't approve of their daughter's (1 year older) boyfriend.

[Derek Ortt]

don't like either... prefer that sex only be during a marriage, like it was intended to be

[TexasStooge]

don't like either... prefer that sex only be during a marriage, like it was intended to be

I second that.

[angelwing]

don't like either... prefer that sex only be during a marriage, like it was intended to be

I second that.

Thirds here

[Yarrah]

don't like either... prefer that sex only be during a marriage, like it was intended to be

Intended by who?

[HurriCat]

Oh let's get it going.

[cajungal]

don't like either... prefer that sex only be during a marriage, like it was intended to be

It should be like that. But, it isn't that way anymore. My parents waited until they were married. But, now hardly anyone waits anymore. That is why STD is an epedimic in our country and there are so many unwanted pregnancies. And kids are starting younger and younger these days. With 12-years old even getting pregnant. A lot of people's attitude seems to be but what if you never meet the one and get married? Are you supposed to wait for the rest of your life? Because they don't know if there will even be a tomorrow. Even the ones who claimed to be the heartiest of Christians stray. Everyone makes mistakes.

[Janice]

A lot of sex is peer pressure too. You do not want to be the odd ball in the crowd.

And girls will believe anything their boyfriend tells them.

[Yarrah]

Yu'll have to change this whole sex-orientated society if you want to do anything about the STD's and the unwanted pregnancies. But since that's almost impossible to do, good sexual education is the keyword. It greatly reduced the teenage parents and STD's here. Saying sex isn't allowed unless you're married won't work at all, since teenagers won't listen to such rules and will only try to break those rules (a forbidden fruit is often the most wanted fruit).

[coriolis]

Of course keeping it in the context of a marriage is the ideal. There's a lot of theoretical and practical reasons for it. Of course few people observe that, and that's a major reason why there's a lot of social problems going on.

[Janice]

There are a lot of countries where multiple births just keep happening. They are ignorant of birth control. Africa, for one. And in most cases, they are married.

Another thing is that especially teens, they know someone will always be there to help them raise the children. Some teens have no peers. No one in their family has ever been married, family members have several children all with different fathers, some family members never worked and fathers never around. This is a long pattern which is hard to break. It is just a way of life.

[Aquawind]

Yu'll have to change this whole sex-orientated society if you want to do anything about the STD's and the unwanted pregnancies. But since that's almost impossible to do, good sexual education is the keyword. It greatly reduced the teenage parents and STD's here. Saying sex isn't allowed unless you're married won't work at all, since teenagers won't listen to such rules and will only try to break those rules (a forbidden fruit is often the most wanted fruit).

Coming from the Netherlands it sounds like you have a pretty good perspective on it.. Education Education Education. Americans need to stop the taboo concept and get real and talk with more serious penalties for even trying.. That and change the media and TV presentation. Heck we have ads that are like kiddie stuff..

[Janice]

Yes, when free sex is advertised in videos and movies, teens seem to think this is ok and accepted by society.

[george_r_1961]

Yu'll have to change this whole sex-orientated society if you want to do anything about the STD's and the unwanted pregnancies. But since that's almost impossible to do, good sexual education is the keyword. It greatly reduced the teenage parents and STD's here. Saying sex isn't allowed unless you're married won't work at all, since teenagers won't listen to such rules and will only try to break those rules (a forbidden fruit is often the most wanted fruit).

Agreed 100 percent with that. Maybe we can use reverse pyschology on teens and tell them its cool to have premarital relations. Ok I know that wont work.

Derek in response to your comment thats the way I was raised. At the same time I was given appropriate sex education. Even when I was a teen back in the 70's premarital sex was rampant and since I couldnt be supervised 24/7 my parents did the right thing.

[Terrell]

don't like either... prefer that sex only be during a marriage, like it was intended to be

Those days are long gone, if they ever existed at all, Policies should be grounded in reality, not unrealistic ideals.

[coriolis]

those days did exist, at least in the ideal. There's always been exceptions to the rules. But if we're going to just toss out the rules, Let's just go back to being hunters and gatherers.

[wxmann_91]

don't like either... prefer that sex only be during a marriage, like it was intended to be

I second that.

Thirds here

I fourth that.

[Swimdude]

GOODNESS GRACIOUS.

Ok. How do I start? I'm a seventeen-year-old male.

There, now that you're all automatically against me, let me try to redeem myself.

Not all teenagers fit the steriotype given by society today. In fact, without getting into the subject of religion, there are many teachings out there that encourage waiting until marriage. My girlfriend and I have been together for 2.5 years, and we would never, ever consider any sort of activity that is unacceptable for our age. We both agree that sex should wait until after marriage, and that society is too loose with its sexual conduct these days.

I'm not saying I don't have raging hormones.

But I am saying that I have brains.

There is hope for society, just in case you were wondering.

Jason

[Derek Ortt]

why should we just concede to the immpral just because "everyone" does it?

That is the attitude that brings about the end of society