Age of consent in Canada now 16

[photon]

It is now illegal for adults in Canada to have sex with a partner under the age of 16, one of the new provisions of the Tories' violent crime law that came into effect on Thursday.
...

But the law includes a "close-in-age exception," meaning 14- and 15-year-olds can have sex with someone who is less than five years older.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/...rime-bill.html

Interesting, it seems like a reasonable compromise to me. Raises the age of consent but recognizes that kids still mess around sometimes and isn't going to ruin the life of some dumb teenager over one incident.

[troutman]

Roger Clemens will want to return to the Jays.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by troutman

Roger Clemens will want to return to the Jays.

[fredr123]

Doing a little research on this topic... I think the feds are going to want to have a word with me if they look at my google search history...

[peter12]

Originally Posted by fredr123

Doing a little research on this topic... I think the feds are going to want to have a word with me if they look at my google search history...

Did that just come out wrong?

[BlackArcher101]

Originally Posted by peter12

Did that just come out wrong?

Yes, yes it did.

[fredr123]

Originally Posted by peter12

Did that just come out wrong?

I was trying to find an article I read about the Miley Cyrus thing (this one at Defamer) and tried plugging in words I recalled from the title. Well, if you click on that link and then imagine what I typed into the google search bar...

[peter12]

Originally Posted by fredr123

I was trying to find an article I read about the Miley Cyrus thing (this one at Defamer) and tried plugging in words I recalled from the title. Well, if you click on that link and then imagine what I typed into the google search bar...

Hahahaha, wow. Hope it doesn't get much worse than that.

[Locke]

nm.

[ken0042]

Keep in mind guys, the age of consent was raised to 16. Previously it was 14.

I remember the subject would come up in the form of a joke, and nobody would believe us when we'd say it was 14. In fact I was shocked when I found out as well.

[Ayrahb]

I am willing to bet that this doesn't change much in terms of the number adults having sex with those under 16. After all, it's not like most of us jumped at the opportunity to sleep with as many 14 year olds as possible when it was legal.

But I guess If it gives you a way having a pervert prosecuted for doing your dumb teenage daughter and marking him as a pedophile, it's great news.

[Locke]

High School girls? Anyone?

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

What the hell?
I didn't vote conservative so they could go and do this?

You know how easy it is to impress 14 year olds with my ability to drive and to purchase booze and smokes?

With the age now 16, half my game is right out the window!

Curses!

Green is the official sarcasm colour right?

[Nufy]

Giggity Giggity............

[Five-hole]

Damn, wish I had had some warning.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by Locke

High School girls? Anyone?

Wooderson: That's what I love about these high school girls, man. I get older, they stay the same age.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Okay, so I've got a question.

I've got this friend....let's say his name is H. Rogan.....no, that's too obvious, let's go with Hulk R.

So he is dating a 15 year old.
Yesterday it was perfectly legal, but today it isn't.
Should he keep seeing her, or does he have to wait a year?

[QuadCityImages]

If he's under 20, he'd still be perfectly fine since its within 5 years. If he's over 20 and dating a 15 year old... that's kind of gross.

I believe Iowa's law is pretty similar, except from 14-16 the person has to be within 2 years of their age.

[Flashpoint]

Originally Posted by Bring_Back_Shantz

Okay, so I've got a question.

I've got this friend....let's say his name is H. Rogan.....no, that's too obvious, let's go with Hulk R.

So he is dating a 15 year old.
Yesterday it was perfectly legal, but today it isn't.
Should he keep seeing her, or does he have to wait a year?

How old is he?

If she is half his age plus seven, then it's totally legit.

So take his age.
Cut it in half.
Add 7.

So long as that number is 15, he's cool. Let's see - as long as he isn't over 16 (16/2=8+7=15) then it's just fine.

If he is over 16, he has violated the laws of math as well as man.

[Thunderball]

I'm a major proponent of the Age / 2 + 7 formula. Its some brilliant math. However, I round down when there's a decimal, I mean a 17 1/2 year old person is not 18, right?

For example, a 16 year old can date a 15 year old, but so can a 17 year old (15.5 = 15), 18 and 19 year olds can date as low as 16 year olds, and 20 and 21 year olds can date as low as 17s. Anything beyond that, and it raises an eyebrow or two. After 18, society seems to accept much bigger gaps, though I find the gap between a 20 year old and a 50 year old to be much more repulsive than a 18 year old and a 14 year old. Neither are overly cool, but I find it really disgusting that if I was to marry a 23 year old when I'm 46, she would be a newborn right now and when I hit 30, she'd be hitting Kindergarten... gross!

Seriously though... this was a good thing to do, especially since they do have a provision to protect from the whole "messy breakup = statutory rape" problem that 18+ guys have faced when dating U18 girls. Fourteen was way too young to be consenting to sex with adults. Personally, I think everything should kick in at 18... drinking, smoking, sexual consent (with a age within reason provision), voting, class 5 driving, military eligibility. Age of Majority is 18... end of story. If you're an adult under the law, you should be entitled to all the rights, privledges, responsibilities and encumbrances therein. Not this driving at 16, but graduated until 20, and no drinking until 19-21 in some places, but conscription age is 16 and consent at 14/16 crap.

I'm actually surprised in the age of stamping out discrimination even where it doesn't truly exist and human rights tribunals and consitutional challenges that these random age laws have survived.