It's a frustrating one for me too. I believe when we tell children that corporal punishment is still legal in Canada, we're saying that their humanity is valued less than that of adults, that our convenience trumps their rights, that they have to bend their self-expression to the will of adults.
Canada ranks very low among its peer countries in awareness of children's rights, so corporal punishment is both a symptom and a cause in that regard.
I'll pause there, because I know Dr. Durrant has something to add to this. Yes, I agree with you. We are not sending the right message to Canadian children that we value their rights.