Hanger Applauds Government for Fulfilling Campaign Promise on Age of Protection Legislation

June 22, 2006

CALGARY - Art Hanger, Calgary Northeast Member of Parliament and Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, applauded the Conservative government for introducing legislation in the House of Commons today, which will raise the age of sexual consent and provide additional protections for children against sexual exploitation and abuse.

“Since I was first elected in 1993, Canada has moved up the list of destinations for pedophiles and predators because a number of laws provide loopholes that allow them to sexually exploit and abuse children. This important piece of legislation is long overdue and will provide law enforcement with another tool to go after sexual predators who exploit and violate children in our communities,” stated Hanger.

“Raising the age of sexual consent is an issue that I have been pursuing for over 10 years. In fact, I first introduced a Private Members’ Bill in the House of Commons dealing with subject on May 31, 1996, and have reintroduced it six other times, but it was repeatedly voted down,” said Hanger.

As Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, I look forward to working with government and opposition Members to move the Age of Protection legislation through the legislative process and see it become law,” Hanger concluded.