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last mo.

Advocates Launch 40-Day Push Urging Ottawa to Reintroduce Child-Safety Online Law Before Year-End

The coalition demands an independent regulator with a binding duty of care in response to a surge in police‑reported exploitation cases.

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Minister of Justice Sean Fraser rises during Question Period on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025.
A national coalition of advocacy groups says the Liberal government needs to introduce online harms legislation to protect children before the end of the year.
Sara Austin, founder and CEO of Children First Canada, speaks at a panel in 2017.

Overview

  • The cross-sector campaign, branded Countdown for Kids, urges the government to re-table a renamed Online Safety Act before New Year’s Eve.
  • The group’s two non-negotiables are an arm’s‑length regulator with fining powers and a legally binding duty of care for digital platforms.
  • Backers include the Canadian Medical Association, Telus, SickKids and CHEO, Children First Canada, Child & Youth Advocacy Centres of Canada, and the Amanda Todd Legacy Society.
  • Statistics Canada recorded 19,516 police‑reported online child sexual exploitation incidents in 2023, up 59% from 2022, and the coalition cites data showing 31% of youth report cyberbullying.
  • Previous bills—C‑36 in 2021 and C‑63 in 2024—died when elections were called, and Justice Minister Sean Fraser has not committed to reintroducing or rewriting the 2024 legislation.