Friday, June 02, 2006
Newspaper excerpts following the campaign - spring 2006
L’Éveil – May 13, 2006
Sexual relation at the age of 16
The NDP of Rivière-des-Mille-Îles rises against bill C-127
As reported by the media and according to the Tories in office, there is growing concern with regard to youngsters facing an overexposure of sex related matters, which is causing numerous problems in today’s society. The proposed legislation (C-127) by Honourable Vic Toews, Justice Minister and Canada’s district attorney would raise the age limit for sexual consent from 14 to 16 years old. Would this be a solution to current problems which are reportedly harmful?
From a personal viewpoint, Annie-Joelle Constantin-Lortie, President of the NDP Youth within Polyvalente Deux-Montagnes and Raphaelle Dubois-Beauchamps, President of the NDP Youth in the Mille-Iles riding believe that this new law would be useless, and even harmful.
Should Messrs. Harper and Toews look further into this, they would see that the NDP in this area disagrees with the proposed new legislation for the future, and that for over a month, some Tories have wished to shed light on this matter and share their concerns with the population, in view to deal with sexual crimes and help the transition of the younger population into more mature individuals.
Some government members link the proposed C-127 law to crime. Do they actually think that by raising the age limit for consent by 2 years, sexual assaults and sex related crimes would diminish? Sexual offenders are not concerned with how old their victims are, they only want to have sex with them. Moreover, sex-related crimes would continue, although not out in the open, and this regardless of the Tories’ new legislation.
The majority of teens tend to go over limits, and some laws are trespassed. In addition, some teens are being abused in sex-related businesses and no law has been able to end this. Only long term safety planning and increasing awareness among parents and youngsters may change the pattern. This will raise concern in some cases, and will be ignored by others, regardless of whether the law is in effect, and despite the application of the new legislation C-127. Thus, New Democrats of Rivière-des-Mille-Ïles believe this proposed legislation would be useless, and have no impact.
For many citizens, sexual consent is a personal matter. Those younger than 14 years old who decide to cut short the transition period between their childhood and teenage years, generally are not mature enough to gain from this experience. In fact, when older than 14, through education and personal evolution, they feel more independent and mature, and should have the freedom to act, being able to judge what’s at stake and knowing the consequences that may result.
Both Annie-Joelle Constantin-Lortie and Raphaelle Dubois-Beauchamps, students at Polyvalente Deux-Montagnes, can count on Francis Chartrand’s full support. Francis, the NDP candidate in Rivière-des-Mille-ïles Riding during the recent Federal Election, has been an active street worker, working closely with the Café de la Paix in St-Eustache. He points out that teenagers need parental guidance, given out with wisdom and honesty, to help them achieve fulfillment in their personal evolution. Changing the age of consent may seem like a gesture of authority to youngsters, implying that for the rest of their teenage years, they are to decide on their own. This may result in more extreme attitudes in our society. Francis Chartrand is convinced that teenagers can treat this matter in a responsible manner, and he would suggest giving them the opportunity, through cultural means, to reflect on the overexposure of sex, and its drawbacks for modern youth.
We would like to hear from all local community organizations and citizens wishing to voice their concerns, and would be pleased to answer any questions at (450) 473-2423 or by E-mail : npd_rdmi@hotmail.com .
Sexual relation at the age of 16
The NDP of Rivière-des-Mille-Îles rises against bill C-127
As reported by the media and according to the Tories in office, there is growing concern with regard to youngsters facing an overexposure of sex related matters, which is causing numerous problems in today’s society. The proposed legislation (C-127) by Honourable Vic Toews, Justice Minister and Canada’s district attorney would raise the age limit for sexual consent from 14 to 16 years old. Would this be a solution to current problems which are reportedly harmful?
From a personal viewpoint, Annie-Joelle Constantin-Lortie, President of the NDP Youth within Polyvalente Deux-Montagnes and Raphaelle Dubois-Beauchamps, President of the NDP Youth in the Mille-Iles riding believe that this new law would be useless, and even harmful.
Should Messrs. Harper and Toews look further into this, they would see that the NDP in this area disagrees with the proposed new legislation for the future, and that for over a month, some Tories have wished to shed light on this matter and share their concerns with the population, in view to deal with sexual crimes and help the transition of the younger population into more mature individuals.
Some government members link the proposed C-127 law to crime. Do they actually think that by raising the age limit for consent by 2 years, sexual assaults and sex related crimes would diminish? Sexual offenders are not concerned with how old their victims are, they only want to have sex with them. Moreover, sex-related crimes would continue, although not out in the open, and this regardless of the Tories’ new legislation.
The majority of teens tend to go over limits, and some laws are trespassed. In addition, some teens are being abused in sex-related businesses and no law has been able to end this. Only long term safety planning and increasing awareness among parents and youngsters may change the pattern. This will raise concern in some cases, and will be ignored by others, regardless of whether the law is in effect, and despite the application of the new legislation C-127. Thus, New Democrats of Rivière-des-Mille-Ïles believe this proposed legislation would be useless, and have no impact.
For many citizens, sexual consent is a personal matter. Those younger than 14 years old who decide to cut short the transition period between their childhood and teenage years, generally are not mature enough to gain from this experience. In fact, when older than 14, through education and personal evolution, they feel more independent and mature, and should have the freedom to act, being able to judge what’s at stake and knowing the consequences that may result.
Both Annie-Joelle Constantin-Lortie and Raphaelle Dubois-Beauchamps, students at Polyvalente Deux-Montagnes, can count on Francis Chartrand’s full support. Francis, the NDP candidate in Rivière-des-Mille-ïles Riding during the recent Federal Election, has been an active street worker, working closely with the Café de la Paix in St-Eustache. He points out that teenagers need parental guidance, given out with wisdom and honesty, to help them achieve fulfillment in their personal evolution. Changing the age of consent may seem like a gesture of authority to youngsters, implying that for the rest of their teenage years, they are to decide on their own. This may result in more extreme attitudes in our society. Francis Chartrand is convinced that teenagers can treat this matter in a responsible manner, and he would suggest giving them the opportunity, through cultural means, to reflect on the overexposure of sex, and its drawbacks for modern youth.
We would like to hear from all local community organizations and citizens wishing to voice their concerns, and would be pleased to answer any questions at (450) 473-2423 or by E-mail : npd_rdmi@hotmail.com .
# posted by Francis Chartrand @ 12:13 AM 
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]