NDP's Peter Julian launches national campaign to ban physical punishment on children

NEW WESTMINSTER – On Friday, NDP MP Peter Julian (New Westminster-Burnaby) launched a national campaign to garner support for his Private Member’s Bill C-273 that aims to outlaw the physical punishment of children in Canada. This bill, tabled last December, is a response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action number six.

“It is appalling that physical punishment of children is still legal in Canada, even when more than sixty countries around the world have banned the practice,” said Julian. “This bill seeks to repeal Section 43 of the Criminal Code, which allows for physical punishment of children. If it passes in Parliament, Bill C-273 will help to end the legalized physical punishment of children in Canada. We call on all parties, including the Liberal government, to support this bill to finally repeal Section 43 of the Criminal Code of Canada once and for all.”

For the launch of this national campaign, Julian held a press conference earlier on Friday joined by Ruth Weller, Executive Director of the Spirit of the Children and Kathy Lynn of Corinne’s Quest, a committee that was formed in 2014 in honour of Corinne Robertshaw, a lawyer who dedicated her life to working to repeal Section 43. This launch comes a day ahead of National Truth and Reconciliation Day.

“This Saturday is Canada’s third National Truth and Reconciliation Day to honour and commemorate the children who never returned home.” said Julian. “We think of the Survivors of residential schools, their families, and communities. We also reflect on our collective history of colonialism and genocide and how it continues to impact Survivors, families, and communities today. As unmarked graves continue to be uncovered, it is a reminder that we must end all legalized harm and physical punishment of children in Canada.”

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Quotes:
“MP Julian’s Bill C-273 holds great importance in the development and wellbeing of all children. Children need to be permitted to live in an environment free from violence and fear. At Spirit of the Children Society, it is our goal to empower and strengthen Indigenous families by providing support and resources through a model of love, caring, and understanding. This is accomplished by teaching the parents, and children, that hurting a person to get their way is not the appropriate way of child rearing; mindfulness, communicating, and role modelling is the ideal way to raise a child. Through this model a child will develop into an individual who is able to learn from their own successes and mistakes and not be fearful of challenges.”
- Ruth Weller, Executive Director of the Spirit of the Children
“In its history, Canada’s laws have condoned beating of slaves, servants, sailors, apprentices, prisoners, dogs, wives, and children. Only children remain on that list. Section 43 was added to Canada’s criminal code in 1892. The quest to repeal s. 43 started in the mid-90s, taking up the challenge first led by Corinne Robertshaw, after whom her organization is named. We are calling all Members of Parliament to support MP Julian’s Bill C-273. It’s time for this to stop the harm and physical punishment on children.”
- Kathy Lynn, Corinne’s Quest