Well, you certainly touched on a lot of different issues, Mr. Thompson. Certainly there has been an evolution in the thinking in this country. I think this particular change of provisions is actually overdue.
That being said, if you go back to the history of this country, go back to the time of Confederation, the age of sexual consent was 12. When the present Criminal Code, which is based on the English criminal code, was adopted and modified, the age of consent was raised to 14—in the year 1890. So I think most people would say that our views on when people become adults have changed. Certainly this is consistent with that.
So I think it's a step in the right direction to move it up to 16. Quite frankly, I think this is consistent with thinking—not just, of course, in Canada, but many other like-minded countries and jurisdictions have likewise sought to increase greater protection within the law.
With respect to involvement with others, school officials, parents, everybody of course has a stake in this. Parents of course have a huge moral and legal responsibility for their children. I'm quite certain that parents whose children may be subject to the type of exploitation we are talking about in this bill would welcome this, as would, I'm sure, school board authorities and teachers and principals.
So I think you'll find that this committee will bring widespread support upon itself, and the House of Commons, by moving forward on it.