This story deals with suicide. If you or someone you know has been the victim of sexual extortion, or is struggling with mental health, you can find resources for help at the bottom of this story.
Carl Burke is frustrated at the government’s decision to prorogue Parliament as it puts several bills, including one intended to protect youths from online predators, in jeopardy.
“We’re playing a game of politics here, and the game of politics we’re playing is with children’s lives,” Burke told The Current’s host Matt Galloway.
“I’m not sure if the government realize that, or if they care.”
Burke lost his son Harry to suicide on April 24, 2023, after he became a victim of a sextortion scheme. Harry, a student in eastern P.E.I., was 17 years old.
He and his family have since worked to raise awareness and call on social media companies and governments to do more to protect young people from sexual predators.
On Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced he would resign as prime minister once the federal Liberal Party chooses a new leader.
He also said Gov. Gen. Mary Simon granted his request to prorogue Parliament, essentially suspending it until March 24.
Parliament is now prorogued until March 24, giving the Liberals time to chart a new path forward in the wake of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation, but that doesn’t mean the government has come to a halt.
The government will continue to operate in the meantime. But all parliamentary activity, including existing bills, comes to a halt. That means some key pieces of legislation, like the Online Harms Act (Bill C-63) could be abandoned.
The act (which was split into two separate bills in December) intends to better protect children from online predators. It completed its first reading and is now awaiting its second reading in the House of Commons.
Work halted by prorogation could be resumed when the legislative agenda resets in March. But there is no certainty that will happen, as opposition parties have signalled their intention to bring down the government as soon Parliament returns, prompting a federal election.
Burke instead pleaded for unity among the parties to ensure the Online Harms Act has a chance to pass the House.
“Whether you’re red, green, blue — whatever colour, that doesn’t matter to me, and it shouldn’t matter to anybody else,” he said.
“I can’t have another family go through what we’re going through right now, because it will affect your life — it’ll change your life forever.”
Another bill in jeopardy
Several other bills are at risk of being abandoned if the Liberal government falls.
The First Nations Clean Water Act, Bill C-61, is awaiting its third reading in the House of Commons.
It proposes new measures to protect freshwater sources, establish minimum national drinking water and wastewater standards in First Nations, create a new First Nations-led water institution to support communities and provide sustainable funding for maintaining water quality.
Linda Debassige, new grand council chief of the Anishinabek Nation and a contributor to elements of the bill, agreed with Burke that the issues at stake should not be influenced by political rifts.
“For the average Canadian, it may be hard to fathom not being able to pour a glass of water out of the tap, to not be able to bathe your infant child in water, to be able to brush your teeth from the infrastructure you have in your home,” Debassige said.
“It’s an embarrassment to this country.”
She says that although the bill is not perfect, its most important aspect is the government’s acknowledgement of clean and safe drinking water as a fundamental human right for First Nations.
“It’s never been legislated to ensure sustainability and reliable funding for that, which is a fiduciary obligation of Canada,” Debassige said.
“The bill would have also provided source water protection and the ability for First Nations to be a part of that.”
When Trudeau’s Liberals won power in 2015, it promised to eliminate boil water advisories on First Nations. Since then, 147 advisories have been lifted, but 31 remain in effect.
This should not be political, advocates say
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre said last year that a Conservative government would repeal the Online Harms Act if passed, citing the federal budget watchdog’s estimate that it could cost $200 million over five years, and pressed the Liberals to instead modernize existing laws.
Burke expressed hope that Poilievre would introduce an alternative bill that accomplishes similar objectives.
“I pray that it’s not political and that there’s nothing that’s going to be involved with money, where people make decisions based on money,” he said.
Burke is urging both current and future policymakers to consider the hardships he has endured and understand the impact of such experiences.
“Go home and look at your children, and pick one that you don’t want to see, or you’re not going to see for the rest of your life,” he said.
“Because that’s all it is. You will never see that child again for the rest of your life.… My only job in this world was to protect my son, and I couldn’t do it because of social media platforms and the lack of control and accountability around them.”
If you or someone you know is struggling, here’s where to get help:
- Cypertip: a resource covering sextortion and other online harms.
- Canada’s Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call or text 988.
- Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868. Text 686868. Live chat counselling on the website.
- Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention: Find a 24-hour crisis centre.
- This guide from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health outlines how to talk about suicide with someone you’re worried about.