Mr. Speaker, this week marked the 20th anniversary of the charter, yet fundamental questions remain about the rights of our most vulnerable citizens, children.
The Sharpe case in British Columbia gave broad interpretation to the defence of artistic merit, leaving children vulnerable. Any material that exploits or degrades children through images or writing is offensive to Canadian community standards. All forms of sexual depiction of children are corrosive and detrimental to their development.
Will the Minister of Justice act responsibly and quickly by instructing his legion of lawyers to draft legislation to eliminate the artistic merit exception that leaves children open to abuse?