The federal government has raised the age of consent to sexual activity with an adult from 14 to 16 years. The new law would mean most adults who have sex with girls or boys aged 14 or 15 could face criminal charges. Many other western nations have ages ranging from 15 to 18.

"Adults who sexually prey upon young people are the targets of these reforms, not consenting teenagers," said Justice Minister Vic Toews, who said the Age of Consent Law will be renamed the Age of Protection Law. There is widespread support for the legislation among law enforcement and child protection agencies and the new law should help address internet luring. It also includes a close-in-age exception, which means that teens who are 14 or 15 can have a sexual partner who is "less than five years older." A time-limited exception would also be available for “existing marriages and equivalent relationships.” There was little media coverage as the bill’s passage on Feb. 27 was overshadowed by budget day. 

NEW BISHOP FOR EDMONTON -- AND POSSIBLY NZ

A woman who grew up in a home that was not sympathetic to Christianity but which loved music has become the Bishop of Edmonton. Dr. Jane Alexander (left) said that she heard “the first whisperings of God” in hymns and oratorios. British by birth, she studied English liturgical music from 1370 to 1430 for her BA at the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne. Alexander is currently the Dean of All Saints' Cathedral and it will be there that she will be installed as bishop on May 11. She has graduate degrees in both education and theology. Dean Alexander was ordained to the priesthood in 2001and has served several parishes in the Edmonton diocese. Dr Alexander was not forthcoming on her views on same-sex blessings before the vote. She was elected March 8 on the third ballot with 52 clergy votes and 89 lay votes.

 Photo: Sue Careless

Dr Alexander succeeds Bishop Victoria Matthews (left) who resigned in 2007. Bishop Matthews has been nominated twice for Primate but lost in 2007 by a narrow margin to Fred Hiltz, Bishop of Nova Scotia and PEI. It has been leaked to the press that in February Bishop Matthews was elected as Bishop of Christchurch in New Zealand. No official announcement has been made as her election has yet to be confirmed by the House of Bishops of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia. Currently Bishop Matthews is Theologian in Residence at Wycliffe College in Toronto.