Skip to Main content

4.01°^C Vancouver

News Entertainment Videos Shows Podcast Contact Us

Nov 29, 2023 9:52 PM - The Canadian Press

Online harms bill: Don't link boy's suicide with government actions, Trudeau says

Share On

online-harms-bill-dont-link-boys-suicide-with-government-actions-trudeau-says

Trudeau first promised to introduce legislation tackling hate speech, terrorist content and sexual abuse material in the 2019 federal election campaign. (Photo: The Canadian Press)

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says it's inappropriate to draw a link between government actions and the death of a British Columbia boy who killed himself last month after falling prey to online sextortion.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh referred to the death of the 12-year-old in Prince George, B.C., during question period today as he asked Trudeau when the Liberal government will table long-promised legislation designed to mitigate online harms.

Trudeau first promised to introduce legislation tackling hate speech, terrorist content and sexual abuse material in the 2019 federal election campaign.

He made a similar promise in the 2021 contest, specifying that a re-elected Liberal government would table a bill within its first 100 days, but it has yet to do so.

Trudeau told MPs today that the government needs to strike the right balance between freedom of expression and addressing the needs of communities subject to "discrimination and marginalization."

The prime minister also cautioned against "associating a tragedy that happened in Prince George with actions or inactions of any particular government," adding in French that it was inappropriate to make such a connection.

Latest news

foreign-national-sentenced-to-four-years-after-cbsa-finds-undeclared-firearms-at-victoria-ferry-terminal

CanadaMar 09, 2026

Foreign national sentenced to four years after CBSA finds undeclared firearms at Victoria ferry terminal

A 44-year-old foreign national has been sentenced to four years in prison following a Canadian Border Services Agency investigation into firearms offences at a British Columbia port of entry. According to the Canadian Border Services Agency, Reuben Velasquez was sentenced on Feb. 3, 2026, in Williams Lake Provincial Court after being convicted of two offences under the Criminal Code: possession of a loaded, prohibited or restricted firearm without authorization or licence under section 95(1), and unauthorized possession of a firearm under section 91(1). The charges stem from an incident on Sep

suspect-arrested-after-atm-stolen-in-abbotsford-business-break-in-police-say

Suspect arrested after ATM stolen in Abbotsford business break-in, police say

A man is in custody after an ATM was stolen during a break and enter at a business in Abbotsford late Sunday night, according to the Abbotsford Police Department. Police say officers responded at about 9:09 p.m. to a report of a break-in at a business in the 36300 block of Auguston Parkway in the city’s McKee area. According to police, suspects had already fled by the time officers arrived. The business sustained damage during the incident and an ATM was reported stolen. At approximately 9:41 p.m., a resident contacted police to report a suspicious vehicle near Wells Gray Avenue and McKinley

ndp-leadership-voting-opens-results-to-be-announced-march-29-in-winnipeg

CanadaMar 09, 2026

NDP leadership voting opens; results to be announced March 29 in Winnipeg

Voting has begun in the federal New Democratic Party leadership race to replace Jagmeet Singh, with party members able to cast ballots until March 28. A party official said about 100,000 members are eligible to vote in the contest. The winner will be announced March 29 at the party’s annual convention in Winnipeg. Five candidates are seeking the leadership: union leader Rob Ashton, social worker Tanille Johnston, filmmaker Avi Lewis, Heather McPherson and farmer Tony McQuail. Fundraising disclosures filed with Elections Canada show Lewis leading the race financially. The party’s latest qua

AlbertaMar 09, 2026

Calgary asks residents to reduce water use as major feeder main shuts down for repairs

The City of Calgary is asking residents to limit water use for the next month as crews shut down a major feeder main for additional repairs. City officials say the Bearspaw South Feeder Main – which carries about 60 per cent of Calgary’s treated drinking water – has been taken offline while crews reinforce sections of the aging pipe. During the shutdown, residents in Calgary and nearby communities are being asked to conserve water by taking shorter showers and reducing toilet flushing. According to the City of Calgary, the shutdown follows a December incident in which the pipe burst thro

liberals-propose-house-of-commons-debate-on-iran-conflict-and-implications-for-canadians-abroad

CanadaMar 09, 2026

Liberals propose House of Commons debate on Iran conflict and implications for Canadians abroad

The federal Liberal government has proposed holding a House of Commons debate Monday evening on the ongoing conflict involving Iran and the potential impact on Canadians in the region, according to government House leader Steven MacKinnon. MacKinnon, who also serves as transport minister, said in a Sunday post on the social platform X that the government had put forward the proposal to opposition parties. The debate would focus on hostilities involving Iran and the implications for Canadians abroad. Media representatives for the New Democratic Party and the Conservative Party of Canada did not

Related News

Foreign national sentenced to four years after CBSA finds undeclared firearms at Victoria ferry terminal

Foreign national sentenced to four years after CBSA finds undeclared firearms at Victoria ferry terminal

A 44-year-old foreign national has been sentenced to four years in prison following a Canadian Border Services Agency investigation into firearms offences at a British Columbia port of entry. According to the Canadian Border Services Agency, Reuben Velasquez was sentenced on Feb. 3, 2026, in Williams Lake Provincial Court after being convicted of two offences under the Criminal Code: possession of a loaded, prohibited or restricted firearm without authorization or licence under section 95(1), and unauthorized possession of a firearm under section 91(1). The charges stem from an incident on Sep

Suspect arrested after ATM stolen in Abbotsford business break-in, police say

Suspect arrested after ATM stolen in Abbotsford business break-in, police say

A man is in custody after an ATM was stolen during a break and enter at a business in Abbotsford late Sunday night, according to the Abbotsford Police Department. Police say officers responded at about 9:09 p.m. to a report of a break-in at a business in the 36300 block of Auguston Parkway in the city’s McKee area. According to police, suspects had already fled by the time officers arrived. The business sustained damage during the incident and an ATM was reported stolen. At approximately 9:41 p.m., a resident contacted police to report a suspicious vehicle near Wells Gray Avenue and McKinley

NDP leadership voting opens; results to be announced March 29 in Winnipeg

NDP leadership voting opens; results to be announced March 29 in Winnipeg

Voting has begun in the federal New Democratic Party leadership race to replace Jagmeet Singh, with party members able to cast ballots until March 28. A party official said about 100,000 members are eligible to vote in the contest. The winner will be announced March 29 at the party’s annual convention in Winnipeg. Five candidates are seeking the leadership: union leader Rob Ashton, social worker Tanille Johnston, filmmaker Avi Lewis, Heather McPherson and farmer Tony McQuail. Fundraising disclosures filed with Elections Canada show Lewis leading the race financially. The party’s latest qua

Legals

Journalism code of ethics

© 2021 AKASH Broadcasting Inc.

MANAGED BY STRATWIT

useful links

Accessibility Plan

BC Children's Hospital