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Raise age for legal sex, NV City says
Liam Lahey Contributing Writer
YOU should be at least 18 years old to engage in sexual activity in North Vancouver.
That's the opinion of North Vancouver City Council following a bitter exchange at last
Monday's meeting. Councillors voted 4-3 in favor of appealing to the federal government to
change
the age of consent.
Existing federal legislation puts the age of consent at 14. The Criminal Code of
Canada makes it illegal for an adult to engage in sexual activity with anyone under the
age of 14.
Provided the adult is not paying for sex, has the mutual consent of the youth, and took
reasonable steps to ascertain the age of the youth, it is legal to engage in sexual
activity with
persons 14 years of age or older. To draw attention to the issue, Kelowna Mayor
Walter Gray
sent letters to the city and other municipalities, calling for like-minded councils to
support raising the age of consent to 18. Gray challenged the federal government to make
the
legislative changes.
There was strong opposition to voting in favor of recognizing Gray's letter and
adopting its contents.
"I believe we were voted into office to decide on matters pertaining to zoning,"
said Coun. John Braithwaite. "Fourteen years old is too young, but 18 is too
old ... let the federal politicians worry about it."
Coun. Barbara Sharp was also critical of doing anything other than acknowledging council's
receipt of the letter.
"You're not living in the real world," she said to Coun. Stella Jo Dean, after
Dean raised the issue.
"Some people get married at the age of 18. I'm not an expert, but 18 is too
high," Sharp said.
Expressions of sarcasm were evident on the faces of some councillors as Dean argued in
favor of supporting Gray's letter.
"Young people are being exploited," she countered. "The age of consent
should be changed to 18."
Dean's position raised the ire of Coun. Bob Fearnley, who was clearly annoyed with Dean's
argument.
"Sexual exploitation of anyone, especially children, is a horrendous crime, but that
isn't the issue here," Fearnley said.
"Look at the recommendations of our staff and listen to what the experts are saying.
"No one here is in favor of sexual exploitation, but that's not what we're discussing
... consider how many 17-year-old Canadians lie in European cemeteries from World War
Two."
The verbal jousting between councillors went back and forth before Mayor Jack Loucks
intervened and forced council to vote on whether or not to adopt the contents of Gray's
letter.
It was Loucks' vote that proved to be the tie breaker, eliciting a "Hooray!"
from Dean.
According to Gray's letter, Kelowna's recommendations to the federal government to elevate
the legal age of consent has been recognized by the Union of B.C. Municipalities.
City staff had recommended that council side step the issue and leave it in the hands of
federal politicians.
Staff said the sexual exploitation of youth is not prevalent on the North Shore.