Protecting Our Kids: Canada’s New “Protecting Victims Act” Bill C-16
- The White Hatter
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
The “Protecting Victims Act”, has officially been brought forward by Justice Minister Sean Fraser, which proposes major updates to the Criminal Code. (1) The goal is to intervene earlier in patterns of abuse, respond more effectively when violence occurs, and give children stronger protection from predators in both physical and digital spaces. The legislation also addresses long-standing concerns about court delays that have resulted in some cases being dismissed before victims receive a resolution. We want to concentrate on three areas that we believe will directly hold criminally liable those who target our youth and teens in Canada.
#1 A New Offence of Coercive Control:
A new offence targeting coercive control would allow earlier intervention in relationships where manipulation, isolation, and intimidation are present. Many families know that abuse doesn’t start with a single act of violence. It grows through patterns of behaviour that strip a person of autonomy and safety. Recognizing coercive control in law could help prevent tragedies before they happen.
We have personal helped in cases where a teen’s partner was using technology as a tool to for the emotional, psychological, physical, and social control of their partner. This new addition would be an effective enforcement tool in cases like this.
#2 Modernizing Protections Against Sexual Violence like Deepfake Nudes and the Non-Consensually sharing of intimate images or video without consent:
The bill also updates how Canada responds to sexual violence, especially in a onlife world. It would:
• Prohibit sharing non-consensual sexual deepfakes
• Increase penalties for distributing intimate images without consent
• Criminalize threats to distribute sexual images, whether real or AI-generated
• Increase penalties for certain forms of sexual assault
Currently, under the Criminal Code, AI created images were not covered, this new addition changes that, These changes reflect both the seriousness of image-based harm and the speed at which technology is creating new tools for exploitation.
#3 Keeping Children Safe From Predators
Parents and caregivers are well aware that the risks facing children have shifted dramatically in recent years. Online sextortion, child luring, and easy access to AI-generated sexual content have changed what safety looks like.
The legislation includes measures to:
• Restore and strengthen mandatory minimum prison penalties for possessing or accessing child sexual abuse material
• Make it illegal to threaten to distribute sexualized images of a child
• Target the distribution of bestiality depictions used to manipulate or groom children
• Strengthen Canada’s ability to prosecute offenders who exploit children abroad
• Require online platforms to preserve relevant data for up to one year, giving police more time to investigate
• Extend the reporting limitation period for child-exploitation cases from 2 to 5 years
There is also a new offence aimed at criminal organizations that recruit or groom youth into criminal activity. This reflects a rising concern about children being pressured into crimes through online communication, intimidation, or organized networks.
What This Means for Parents and Caregivers
For families, the proposed changes reflect a growing recognition that violence, especially when driven by coercion or technology, requires stronger and more modern responses. Parents should take note of several key themes:
• Earlier intervention is becoming a priority. Recognizing coercive control and image-based harm can help prevent tragedies before they escalate.
• The law is catching up to digital threats. Deepfakes, sextortion, and online grooming are now central considerations in criminal justice reform.
• Children’s online safety is being taken more seriously. Stronger penalties and better investigative tools signal a shift toward increased protection.
• Victims’ experiences in court are receiving long overdue attention. The process is being re-examined so survivors are not re-traumatized while seeking justice.
While the legislative process is now underway, the Act represents one of the most significant criminal law updates in years. Parents and caregivers will want to follow these developments closely, because they touch on issues that reach into homes, relationships, schools, and the digital spaces where children spend increasing amounts of time.
We will continue to monitor this Bill as it progresses and keep our audience informed of any amendments before it becomes law.
The White Hatter
Facts Not Fear, Facts Not Emotions, Enlighten Not Frighten, Know Tech Not No Tech
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