Realwomen of BC - Archives - March2008 - Good News for our Children

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THE REAL NEWS The R.E.A.L WOMEN of BC Newsletter March 2008, P.O. Box 39068, Point Grey RPO, Vancouver, BC V6R 4P1, Tel/Fax: 604- 463-1611, website: http://www.realwomen.bc.ca
Good news for our children For many years various organizations, Members of Parliament and individuals have been working hard to have the age of consent raised from l4 to l6. For too many years Canada has been a haven for predators who have taken advantage of the low age of protection. The long awaited day has finally arrived. On February 27 Bill C-2 was passed by the Senate and received Royal Assent the following day. Canada has finally shown that it cares enough for its children to raise the age of protection to l6. Bill C-2 also includes toughening sentencing and bail for those who commit gun crimes, and treating drug-impaired drivers and dangerous offenders more seriously. The Unborn Victims of Crime Bill C-484 has passed second reading and has now moved on to the Justice and Human Rights Committee. The Private Members Bill was introduced by Conservative MP Ken Epp from Edmonton- Sherwood Park. It is unusual for a private member’s bill to pass second reading so this is great news. Conservative MP Ken Epp’s reaction to the 2nd reading passage of his private member’s bill C-484: “I want to thank my Colleagues in the House today for doing the right thing, for standing up for pregnant women and the babies they want to protect from violence. If the bill is allowed to return to the house it will have to pass third reading. Thousands of Canadians have signed petitions and contacted their MPs asking for support on this bill. This shows that WE CAN have an impact. Now we have to wait and see what the decision of the committee will be.
Women are like teabags. We don’t know our true strength until we are in hot water. Eleanor Roosevelt