News Release: MP Arnold Bill Advances to Senate  

For Immediate Release

February 3, 2023

MP Arnold Bill Advances to Senate  

Ottawa, ON – A federal bill sponsored by Mel Arnold, Member of Parliament for North Okanagan- Shuswap, has advanced to the Senate for the next stage of legislative review. Bill C-291 was initiated by MP Arnold last June and proposes to replace the term “child pornography” in federal laws with the term “child sexual abuse and exploitation material”- an important change of term that received unanimous support from all parties in the House of Commons.

“I was honoured to receive unanimous support from the House of Commons to move this important bill one step closer to implementation,” said MP Arnold. “The House of Commons has agreed that words matter, and this bill is an important step in strengthening our laws and how we as a society perceive and treat sexual offences against and exploitation of children.”

“I am encouraged by the strong support this bill received in the House and will be working to keep it moving forward through Senate review towards implementation,” concluded MP Arnold. “Much more work is required to increase protection of children and this bill is one step that must be followed by other steps in the fight against sexual abuse and exploitation of children.”