From the Winnipeg Free Press– One of Canada’s foremost experts on child protection online said she is “very optimistic” that a panel advising cabinet ministers about combating online harm can map out a way to protect minors from sexual exploitation on the internet.
Lianna McDonald, executive director of the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, was among a dozen people appointed last week to the expert panel asked to help the government craft a new online safety bill.
Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez and Justice Minister David Lametti are preparing to reintroduce a bill tackling online harms, including racist and antisemitic abuse. The first version was introduced in the waning days of the last Parliament and when the election was called it died without ever being debated in the House of Commons.
The inclusion of McDonald on the new advisory panel signals that tackling online child abuse will be a key element of the forthcoming bill.