Bill 202, the Mandatory Reporting of Child Pornography Act (Second Reading)
March 8, 2010
Mrs. Forsyth: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Today I’m pleased to rise in this House to begin second reading of Bill 202, the Mandatory Reporting of Child Pornography Act. That said, Mr. Speaker, I am sad that this is an issue that even requires a piece of legislation or that Albertans would have to worry about it, but wishing that the issue of child pornography was not a problem does not make it go away. As a former Solicitor General and a former minister of children’s services for the government of Alberta I had the opportunity to work very closely with law enforcement officials. As the Solicitor General I witnessed hardened police officers break down in tears as they described the images that were forever seared into their minds, I listened to them outline ways to help reduce the number of children who had been exploited to satisfy a sexually deviant pleasure, and I heard that we needed to give them more tools to go after criminals. That is the purpose behind the private member’s bill and why I hope that every member of this House will support it.
The goal of Bill 202 is simple and straightforward: to mandate the reporting of child pornography. It does not intend to mandate seeking out child pornography. Rather, it would require that if an individual believed that a particular material is or may be child pornography, then it’s mandatory to report the incident to the police or other reporting entities. This bill would also provide important protection for those who report this vile material and ensure that no repercussions for reporting are experienced. In addition, Mr. Speaker, Bill 202 will establish actions that a reporting entity must take following a report. This includes but is not limited to ensuring that the entity performs an inspection, and where it is believed that child pornography is occurring, a report is made to the child and family services agency or law enforcement agency so as to both protect the child and apprehend the offender or offenders.
[Mr. Mitzel in the chair]
When I first began to serve in this House, the Internet was in its infancy. E-mail was relatively limited. Personal computers were starting to take off. Our world has changed, and our laws must keep up, Mr. Speaker. Each of us knows the unspeakable evil that child pornography represents. Because I was the Solicitor General, I saw some of the material that investigators came across in their efforts to put these sexual deviants behind bars.
As we try to focus on what Bill 202 is truly about, let me paint a picture for you and members of the Assembly and Albertans. Imagine a small house in a community. It could be anywhere. Imagine walking up to that house and walking up the stairs to the second floor. Imagine a door that is closed. You hear some noises coming from behind that door, and you open that door. Then imagine stumbling upon something no one should ever see: a small child – and we’ll call her Jennifer – being sexually violated and this abuse being broadcast through a camera onto the Internet as orders are taken by sexual deviants about acts to be committed on that child.
Imagine stumbling across these images on the Internet and calling your Internet service provider and reporting what you’ve seen but the company cannot give the police some of the information that they need to stop the crime and track down those who are paying for these acts to be committed against Jennifer. Jennifer is the face of one child. There are thousands more like her that face complete degradation at the hands of pedophiles and sexual deviants. It is these kinds of images that will never leave my mind. The impact of these crimes will forever scar children like Jennifer who are abused and who are violated.
Mr. Speaker, this Assembly has the opportunity to help prevent child pornography from winding its web in our communities. This Assembly has the opportunity to turn people and companies who become aware of child pornography into good Samaritans who can give law enforcement the information they need to stop the crime in progress. This Assembly has the chance to prevent other Janes or Jennifers from being victimized and forever hurt by child pornography.
The intent of this bill is simple. It is clear; it is straightforward. Law enforcement supports it, many Albertans support it, and I hope all members of this Assembly will support it also.
Thank you.
Mrs. Forsyth: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I listened very intently to all of the comments that were made, and I will definitely provide the definition of child pornography. I listened with rapt interest in regard to “We’re waiting for the federal government initiative” and “We’re waiting for the federal government.”
Well, we’ve been waiting since 2002 for the feds to move: 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007, ’08, and again in 2009, but Parliament was prorogued. I think about that timing, and I think about how many people have been hit with this issue of child pornography. I’d be pleased to answer questions in Committee of the Whole on Cybertip and the ICE teams and from my colleague across the way from me on privacy.
At this point, Mr. Speaker, I’ll move second reading of Bill 202.
Video