17.99°C Vancouver

Feb 24, 2023 10:45 PM - The Canadian Press

Quebec tables bill to protect rights of children born of sexual assault

Share On
quebec-tables-bill-to-protect-rights-of-children-born-of-sexual-assault
The bill would also require the aggressor to meet certain needs of the child and to compensate the mother (Photo: The Canadian Press)

The Quebec government has tabled a bill that would make it illegal for someone who commits sexual assault to claim parental rights if the rape produces a child.

Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette tabled Bill 12 on Thursday, permitting a mother who is the victim of sexual assault to refuse parental rights to her aggressor, or to have them revoked.

The bill would also require the aggressor to meet certain needs of the child and to compensate the mother.

It would also permit a child born of a sexual assault to be eligible to claim inheritance after the aggressor dies.

Jolin-Barrette told a news conference Thursday he was inspired to draft the bill by the case of a young woman whose story was reported in La Presse last year, and who was unsuccessful in stopping her attacker from being declared the father of the baby.

Quebec's Justice Department says about 170 children every year in the province are born as a result of a sexual assault.

Latest news

fuel-costs-on-the-rise-as-latest-geopolitical-turmoil-drives-up-crude-oil-prices
CanadaJul 23, 2026

Fuel costs on the rise as latest geopolitical turmoil drives up crude oil prices

Fuel costs are on the rise in Canada as geopolitical turmoil drives the price of crude oil to its highest level in more than a month. Gasbuddy.com, which crowdsources pump price data from across Canada and the U.S, says the Canadian national average now sits above $1.80 a litre- a two-cent increase from a day earlier and an eight-cent bump from a week ago. Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at Gasbuddy, says that could rise by another five to 10 cents over the next week or two as the full impact of the crude price jump works its way through the supply chain. West Texas Intermediate cr
canada-labour-board-again-orders-bank-of-canada-to-stop-using-replacement-workers-during-security-officers-strike
CanadaJul 23, 2026

Canada Labour Board again orders Bank of Canada to stop using replacement workers during security officers' strike

The Canada Industrial Relations Board has ordered the Bank of Canada for a second time to stop using replacement workers during an ongoing strike by its security officers, ruling that the practice violates Canada's new anti-scab provisions under the Canada Labour Code. According to the Public Service Alliance of Canada, the central bank continued using employees from private security firm Pinkerton despite an earlier board order issued in early July. The union alleged the replacement workers were being used to undermine the legal strike. The board has directed the Bank of Canada to remove the
lytton-b-c-hits-41-degrees-hottest-temperature-in-canada-this-year
BCJul 23, 2026

Lytton, B.C., hits 41 degrees, hottest temperature in Canada this year

The heat wave that has scorched southern British Columbia this week has seen temperatures pass 40 degrees for a second consecutive day in the Fraser Canyon, marking the two hottest temperatures recorded in Canada this year. Environment Canada says temperatures in Lytton hit 41.2 degrees on Wednesday, breaking a daily heat record set in 2006. Heat warnings that have blanketed the southern half of the province this week have receded, ending in Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, the Sunshine Coast, portions of Vancouver Island and the North Coast. But more than 20 heat warnings remain in place,
carney-says-canada-will-support-workers-and-businesses-amid-u-s-tariff-dispute
CanadaJul 23, 2026

Carney says Canada will support workers and businesses amid U.S. tariff dispute

Prime Minister Mark Carney says the federal government will take whatever steps are necessary to protect and support Canadians, families, workers and businesses as trade tensions with the United States continue. Carney made the remarks Thursday during the final day of the annual meeting of Canada's provincial and territorial premiers in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. According to the prime minister, discussions focused heavily on U.S. President Donald Trump's threats to impose a new 50 per cent tariff on Canadian goods. Carney said Canada is in a stronger position than it was when the tr
AlbertaJul 23, 2026

Calgary police ask residents to check vacant homes as search for missing autistic boy enters seventh day

Calgary police are asking residents, property owners and real estate professionals to check vacant homes as the search for an 11-year-old boy with autism entered its seventh day. According to Calgary Police Service, Parker, who is non-verbal, walked away from his day home in north Calgary last Thursday. Police have not released his last name. Acting Staff Sgt. Scott Guterson said Parker has the skills to survive inside a home, including getting drinking water from a tap and food from a refrigerator. Investigators believe he may have entered an unoccupied residence, prompting the appeal for peo

Related News