Raising the age of consent. (Canada).

Ottawa--On April 24, Life Site News reported on what is called one of the most outrageous speeches ever made in the Canadian Parliament. Hedy Fry, former Secretary of State for the Status of Women--and famous for seeing Ku Klux Klan crosses on B.C. lawns when no one else could see them-endorsed the right of children "below the age of 16" to engage in sexual activity. In a speech on April 23, opposing a motion to raise the age of consent in Canada from 14 to at least 16, she discussed sexual activity at the age of 13, saying there was a need for young children to have sex with each other. "First and foremost there must be a recognition that young people under the age of 16 do have a sexuality that they need to express and engage in consensually with each other."

Fry, a medical doctor and a Catholic born in the West Indies, has played a major Canadian role at the United Nations in promoting abortion and homosexuality. As the head of the Canadian delegation at the United Nation Beijing +5 Conference, she tried to have its report promote an "inherent right of the person to make decisions about her sexual and reproductive life." A Toronto homosexual newspaper, Xtra, quoted her in 1999 as saying that Canada is the foremost supporter of homosexuality at the U.N.: "All I can tell you," she told a group of lesbian activists, "is that Canada went to the wall on the issue, and its the only country that goes to the wall on this issue every single time."

The Canadian Alliance had put forward a motion aimed at protecting children from sexual predators. It recommended tougher measures against child pornography and raising the legal age of consent to at least 16. Five courageous Liberal members--Dan McTeague, Tom Wappel, Albina Guarnieri, Janco Peric, and Joe Volpe--broke with the party to vote for the proposal. It was voted down 163-62. Nevertheless, there is evidence that the vast majority of Canadians favour stricter laws regarding child pornography and endorse raising the age of consent for sex. Garry Breitkreuz, MP for Yorkton-Melville, SK, said that his office has received more than 15,000 postcards and petitions condemning Canada's lax laws on the age of consent.

Just after this motion was voted down, another was passed on the "Canadian National Horse." Alliance Justice critic Vic Toews later pointed out the irony involved: "Yesterday was a great day for the Canadian horse, but Canadian children were not so fortunate. This Liberal government voted unanimously to give Canada a national horse, but voted against two motions to protect children against sexual abuse."