March 2006 Cover
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The new Conservative minority government in Canada has made its first priority the passage of a bill to increase the age-of-consent from 14 (where it's been since 1892) to 16. This
has been a major Conservative concern for years, and is probably viewed by them as more likely to pass than their other sexual/social initiatives, such as outlawing abortion, undoing gay
marriage, or reducing public health care.
Gay groups from British Columbia to Quebec, and especially in Ontario, are beginning to mobilize against the proposed change.
The Conservatives have a very fragile government with only 124 out of 308 seats in parliament. Among the opposition are the Bloc Quebecois, which has steadfastly opposed raising
the age, as do at least some New Democratic Party and Liberal MPs.
If the gay community can unify and solidify its opposition, this bill is thought not likely to proceed and may not come to a vote before the next election, expected within the year.
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