National

Online harms bill: Don't link boy's suicide with government actions, Trudeau says

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 29 Nov, 2023 02:17 PM

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says it's inappropriate to draw a link between government actions and the death of a British Columbia boy who killed himself last month after falling prey to online sextortion.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh referred to the death of the 12-year-old in Prince George, B.C., during question period today as he asked Trudeau when the Liberal government will table long-promised legislation designed to mitigate online harms.

Trudeau first promised to introduce legislation tackling hate speech, terrorist content and sexual abuse material in the 2019 federal election campaign.

He made a similar promise in the 2021 contest, specifying that a re-elected Liberal government would table a bill within its first 100 days, but it has yet to do so.

Trudeau told MPs today that the government needs to strike the right balance between freedom of expression and addressing the needs of communities subject to "discrimination and marginalization."

The prime minister also cautioned against "associating a tragedy that happened in Prince George with actions or inactions of any particular government," adding in French that it was inappropriate to make such a connection.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Some wind warnings, high streamflow advisory remain in place for B.C. coast

A handful of wind warnings and a high streamflow advisory remain in place for parts of Vancouver Island and British Columbia's central coast after the region's first major wind storm of the fall. Environment Canada has wind warnings for the central coast, northern Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii, with winds up to 110 kilometres an hour expected to ease by early Tuesday.

Some wind warnings, high streamflow advisory remain in place for B.C. coast

Long-term care profiting

A report from British Columbia's advocate for seniors says profits for contracted long-term care facilities are growing significantly faster than expenses such as as direct care costs and staff wages. Isobel Mackenzie says in her latest report that a review of 181 facilities contracted to provide long-term care shows profit in 2022 increased 113 per cent over five years.

Long-term care profiting

Friend, community members remember 'humble,' 'genuine' Mountie killed in shooting

Ridge Meadows RCMP Const. Rick O'Brien was shot and killed while executing a warrant in Coquitlam, B.C., on Friday. Nicholas Bellemare, 25, has been charged with first degree murder and attempted murder with a firearm in the shooting incident that killed O'Brien and injured two other officers.

Friend, community members remember 'humble,' 'genuine' Mountie killed in shooting

Flag raising at B.C. legislature honours residential school survivors, lost children

Fresh fall winds helped mark a flag-raising ceremony today at the British Columbia legislature honouring residential school survivors and remembering children who never came home. The orange and white Survivors' Flag will be flown at the front lawn of the legislature until sundown on Saturday, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Flag raising at B.C. legislature honours residential school survivors, lost children

New immigration minister says one-click citizenship oath still worth considering

Immigration Minister Marc Miller says the controversial idea to allow new Canadians to take their oath of citizenship with the click of a button is still a good option that's worth considering, but there are no immediate plans for implementation. The government asked for public feedback in February about the idea to allow new Canadians to skip a virtual or in-person ceremony and opt instead to take the oath with the click of a mouse.

New immigration minister says one-click citizenship oath still worth considering

Toxic drugs leading cause of death in B.C. for those age 10 to 59: coroner

British Columbia's coroner says drug toxicity is the leading cause of death in the province for those aged 10 to 59, far larger than homicides, suicides, accidents and natural diseases combined. The statistic comes as the latest figures are released for August, saying there were 174 toxic-drug deaths last month.