A move to ban spanking and every form of corporal punishment in Canada has gathered momentum in Ottawa, thanks to New Westminster-Burnabys MP.
MP Peter Julian, the NDP house leader, recently tabled Bill C-273 in Parliament. The bill is dubbed An Act to Amend the Criminal Code (Corinnes Quest and the protection of children). It is designed to cancel Section 43 of the Criminal Code, the section that allows physical punishment of children in Canada.
Corinnes Quest happens to be a committee that was founded in 2014 to honour Corinne Robertshaw, a lawyer who spent her life working to repeal Section 43. Former New Westminster MP and MLA Dawn Black was a longtime advocate of the issue, and Julian has taken up the challenge.
While presenting the bill Julian made it known that everybody knows physical punishment of children is still not illegal in Canada, though many countries around the world have banned the practice.
The bill recently received its first reading in the House of Commons.
Before the bill is passed into law, it would pass through a second reading, consideration in committee, a report to Parliament and third reading.
While talking about the bill Corinnes Quest chairperson, Kathy Lynn, a parenting expert, said it was time Canadian children were given the same protection against assault that every citizen enjoys.
She said violence against children should be against the law and not be defined by the law.
Julian acknowledged the group’s efforts in advocating on behalf of children.
While acknowledging the efforts, he said: “Special thanks to Kathy and John Lynn, who are constituents of mine in New Westminster-Burnaby, who are really shepherding the push to ban physical punishment of children and repeal Section 43.
“I hope that all members of Parliament will support this important legislation.”
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