OTTAWA - "Now that the long-awaited Age of Protection legislation [Bill C-22] has been referred to the Senate, let's pass it quickly," says Dick Harris, MP for Cariboo-Prince George and BC Caucus Chair.

Harris says he followed the earlier related committee hearings "with intense interest" since Canada's New Government tabled Bill C-22 months ago. Police officers were among the many witnesses who appeared at the committee stage, each decrying the number of predators, inside and outside of Canada, who seek children and young teens. Canada has increasingly become a "destination of choice" because of a low age of consent at 14 years of age and, to parents' dismay, little or nothing could be done by the police or courts, explained Harris.

Formerly called the age of consent, Bill C-22 renames it to the 'Age of Protection' marking an important step toward strengthening child protection and it will also bring Canada's laws into conformity with that of many other like-minded countries.

Hopeful that a Liberal-dominated Senate will not delay a quick passage, Harris recalls that "the Liberals spent years opposing any measure to raise the age of protection from 14 to 16 years of age, but our Canadian children needed this protection long ago.

This will help the police, who have been asking for tougher laws, to shut down adults who sexually exploit our children," concluded Harris.

Since taking office, Canada's New Government has brought forward 12 new justice bills including legislation to restrict conditional sentences, better fight alcohol- and drug impaired-driving, create tougher laws against street racing, and impose tougher mandatory penalties on members of organized crime, gangs and those who use firearms to commit crimes.