The Conservative government introduced a bill on Thursday that would raise the age of sexual consent by two years to 16.

If passed, the new law would mean most adults who have sex with girls or boys aged 14 or 15 could face criminal charges.

'Adults who sexually prey upon young people are the targets of these reforms, not consenting teenagers,' said Justice Minister Vic Toews.
'Adults who sexually prey upon young people are the targets of these reforms, not consenting teenagers,' said Justice Minister Vic Toews.
(CBC)
"Adults who sexually prey upon young people are the targets of these reforms, not consenting teenagers," said Justice Minister Vic Toews, who said the bill will rename the Age of Consent law to the Age of Protection law.

The proposed legislation includes a close-in-age exception, which means that teens who are 14 or 15 can have a sexual partner who is "less than five years older."

"Another time-limited exception would also be available for existing marriages and equivalent relationships," said a news release posted Thursday on the Justice Department's website.

The current legal age of consent in Canada is 14. Many other western nations have ages ranging from 15 to 18. (See box at right.)

'Widespread public support' for law, Toews says

Toews said there is "widespread public support" for the proposed legislation among law enforcement and child protection agencies, as well as ordinary Canadians.

He said he believes the bill will have enough support from opposition parties to pass in a House of Commons vote.

Several high-profile criminal cases have pushed both internet luring and the age-of-consent issues into the spotlight in the past few years.

In one luring case, a 31-year-old Edmonton man was sentenced in December 2005 to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to having sex with a 13-year-old autistic girl he met through an internet chat room.