moved for leave to introduce Bill C-430, An Act to amend the Competition Act and the Food and Drugs Act (child protection against advertising exploitation).
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the talented member for Vancouver Kingsway for seconding my bill.
By the time Canadian children graduate from high school, they have seen, on average, 350,000 television commercials. Many experts have said that young people today are targeted with a greater intensity and frequency of ads than any previous generation.
This legislation would amend the Competition Act and the Food and Drugs Act. It would protect Canadian children against exploitation from commercial advertising. It was developed in collaboration with the Centre for Science in the Public Interest. The bill is based on legislation passed in Quebec in 1980 and is similar to new regulations adopted by the United Kingdom in April 2007. Sweden and Norway have also adopted similar laws. Many grassroots and professional organizations in Canada support this legislation, including the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario, the Ontario Public Health Association and the Association of Local Public Health Agencies.
This kind of legislative approach would protect the rights of children and produce results with outcomes such as lower obesity. That is one of the many potential benefits. If we responsibly regulate the advertising children are exposed to, we can help children increase their chances of living healthier, better lives.
I certainly hope that this legislation will receive support from both sides of the House.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)