Anti-Child Porn Law Can’t Wait
 
If there is one issue that should be entirely non-partisan, it is the issue of child pornography. Members of all parties have repeatedly declared their support for laws that will make it more difficult for the perpetrators of arguably the most despicable acts known to mankind, to carry out their crimes against children.
 
It was in that spirit of non-partisanship that Wildrose MLA, Heather Forsyth, recently introduced Bill 202, the Mandatory Reporting of Child Pornography Act. As the title of the Bill suggests, this law would make the reporting of child pornography to the police mandatory for any individuals or companies who might come across it.
 
You would think that passage of this Bill would be a slam dunk, right? Wrong.
 
For reasons that defy comprehension, the PC Government has decided they will not pass the Bill because it contains a proclamation date (otherwise known as an implementation date). They are only willing to pass the Bill if it doesn’t have such a date. In essence, they don’t want to vote against the Bill publicly (for obvious reasons), but they also don’t want to actually implement the Bill by including an implementation date.
 
Again, the reasons for stalling on such an important, non-partisan initiative escape me. The Government MLAs, in every speech given on the proposed law, claim to support the content of the Bill – not one has suggested amendments to strengthen it or address some perceived unintended consequence. The only plausible explanation could be that the Government doesn’t want MLA Forsyth (and the Wildrose Alliance for that matter) to receive credit for bringing the Bill forward. If this is in fact the reason, Government MLAs should be ashamed. The spectacle of watching these MLAs towing the party line, standing up in trained unanimity, and voting against the Bill, was both disappointing and yet another example of just how undemocratic and petty our system of governance has become.
 
I would ask that any who are concerned about the issue of child pornography email, call or mail a letter to Premier Stelmach, Justice Minister Alison Redford, and Private Members Bill Chair, MLA Doug Griffiths, reminding each of them that a vote against a Mandatory Reporting of Child Pornography Act which includes an implementation date, is in fact, a vote against the Bill and the children it aims to protect.
 
The PC Government and MLAs must pass and implement this Bill. Declining to do so will result in more children being needlessly abused. It’s that simple.
 
Here is the contact information for the aforementioned government members:
 

 
Premier Stelmach
307, Legislature Building
10800 - 97th Avenue
Edmonton, AB T5K 2B6
Phone: (780) 427 2251
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Minister Alison Redford
403, Legislature Building
10800 - 97 Avenue
Edmonton, AB  T5K 2B6
Phone: (780) 427-2339
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MLA Doug Griffiths
503, Legislature Building
10800 - 97 Avenue
Edmonton, AB T5K 2B6
Phone: (780) 422-5369
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