Submitted by the Masset RCMP detachment--Recently, the Masset RCMP have heard from concerned parents, teens and the community at large about a topic unsettling to the RCMP. We are referring to "consensual" relationships between two people of a substantial age difference. We'd like to address this issue and educate the public inregards to these potentially "illegal relationships" by first by explaining the law.What does the "age of consent" or "age of protection" mean? The age of consent, also known as the "age of protection", refers to the age at which a young person can legally consent to sexual activity. All sexual activity without consent, regardless of age, is a criminal offence.What is Canada's age of consent?The age of consent for sexual activity is 16 years. It was raised from 14 years in 2008 by the Tackling Violent Crime Act.However, the age of consent is 18 years where the sexual activity "exploits" the young person -- when it involves prostitution, pornography or occurs in a relationship of authority, trust or dependency (e.g., with a teacher, coach or babysitter). Sexual activity can also be consideredexploitative based on the nature and circumstances of the relationship, e.g., the young person's age, the age difference between the young personand their partner, how the relationship developed (quickly, secretly, or over the Internet) and how the partner may have controlled or influenced theyoung person.To what kind of sexual activity does this apply?The age of consent laws apply to all forms of sexual activity, ranging from sexual touching (e.g., kissing) to sexual intercourse.Are there any exceptions?The Criminal Code provides "close in age" or "peer group" exceptions.For example, a 14 or 15 year old can consent to sexual activity with a partner as long as the partner is less than five years older and there is no relationship of trust, authority or dependency or any other exploitation of the young person. This means that if the partner is 5 years or older than the 14 or 15 year old, any sexual activity will be considered a criminal offence unless it occurs after they are married to each other (in accordance with the "solemnization" of marriage requirements established in each province and territory, governing how and when a marriage can beperformed, including the minimum age at which someone may marry).There is also a "close-in-age" exception for 12 and 13 year olds: a 12 or 13 year old can consent to sexual activity with another young person who is less than two years older and with whom there is no relationship of trust, authority or dependency or other exploitation of the young person.All reported incidences of relationships falling outside the legal framework set forth by the Canadian Criminal Code are investigated by police andwill usually fall into one or more of the following categories from the Criminal Code of Canada:· Sexual Interference (section 151) - no one can touch any part of the body of a child under the age of 16 for a sexual purpose. Thepenalty for this offence is a mandatory minimum period of imprisonment of up to a maximum of 10 years;· Invitation to Sexual Touching (section 152) - no one can invite a child under the age of 16 to touch himself/herself or them for a sexualpurpose. The penalty for this offence is a mandatory minimum period of imprisonment of up to a maximum of 10 years;· Sexual Exploitation (section 153) - no one in a position of trust or authority over a 16 or 17 year old (for example, a teacher, religiousleader, baby-sitter or doctor) or upon whom the young person is dependent, can touch any part of the body of the young person for asexual purpose or invite that young person to touch himself/herself or them for a sexual purpose. The penalty for this offence is amandatory minimum period of imprisonment of up to a maximum of 10 years;· Incest (section 155) - no one may have sexual intercourse with their parent, child, brother, sister, grandparent or grandchild. The penalty for this offence is a maximum of 14 years imprisonment;· Child Pornography (section 163.1) - no one may make, distribute, transmit, make available, access, sell, advertise, export/import orpossess child pornography. Child pornography is broadly defined and includes materials that show someone engaged in explicit sexualactivity who is, or seems to be, under the age of 18 years; or show a young person's sexual organ or anal region for a sexual purpose.Child pornography also includes written and audio material that encourages others to commit a sexual offence against a child, or isprimarily a description of unlawful sexual activity with a child that is intended for a sexual purpose. The penalties for these offences aremandatory minimum periods of imprisonment and vary up to a maximum of either 5 or 10 years;· Luring a Child (section 172.1) - no person may use a computer system, such as the Internet, to communicate with a young person for the purpose of facilitating the commission of a sexual or abduction offence against that young person. This offence is sometimes called "Internet luring". The penalty for this offence is a maximum of 10 years imprisonment;· Exposure (subsection 173(2)) - no one may expose their genital organs for a sexual purpose to a young person under the age of 16years. The penalty for this offence is a maximum of 6 months imprisonment;· Procuring (sections 170, 171, 212(2), 212(2.1) and 212(4) - it is against the law for parents and guardians to procure their child under the age of 18 years to engage in illegal sexual activity. It is also against the law for anyone to offer or obtain the sexual services of a young person under the age of 18 years (i.e., prostitution). The penalties for these offences are mandatory minimum periods ofimprisonment and vary up to a maximum of 14 years imprisonment;· Bestiality (section 160) - it is against the law for anyone to engage in sexual activity with an animal, including making a child do this or doing this in front of a child. The penalties for these offences vary up to a maximum of 10 years imprisonment; and,· Child Sex Tourism (subsections 7(4.1) - 7(4.3) - it is against the law for a Canadian to travel outside of Canada and engage in anysexual activity with a young person that is against the law in Canada. If the Canadian is not found guilty of committing such a sexualoffence in the country where it occurred, the Canadian could be convicted in Canada and would face the same penalty as if that offence had occurred in Canada.If the younger party is not deemed to be capable of LEGALLY CONSENTING, police will recommend charges against the older partner in the relationship, to the British Columbia Crown Prosecutors office.If you, or someone you know is engaging in an illegal relationship, encourage them to stop. If you require more information please contact the Masset RCMP at 626-3991 or in person at 2042 Collison Avenue. If you are outside the Masset area, contact your local police detachment.