Dear Supporters of Repeal of Section 43,
Today is the International Day to End Corporal Punishment of Children. Today, Lao PDR became the 66th country to prohibit all corporal punishment of children.
Yesterday, Canada’s Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights met to deliberate Bill C-273 which, if passed, will finally repeal section 43 of the Criminal Code. During the meeting, some members derailed the process by amplifying claims by the Canadian Teachers Federation that a repeal will prohibit teachers from intervening in fights and protecting children. This claim is completely unfounded. No other profession has access to section 43, yet they physically intervene to protect children and others in their care every day – for example, ECEs, nurses, coaches, referees, physicians, group home operators, etc. etc. etc.
Some members were also dismissive of why this is an important part of the TRC Call to Actions, namely TRC Call to Action #6.
The meeting was adjourned before a vote could take place. We have one more chance to have our voices heard. I am asking for your help at this critical point.
Here is the letter in English and French. Please copy and paste both versions into an email, insert your signature at the end of each version, and send it as set out below.
Please engage all supportive friends, family members and colleagues in this effort. Please act with urgency, as the vote will take place very soon.
Address your message to: JUST@parl.gc.ca; lenametlege.diab@parl.gc.ca
Subject Heading: Bill C-273
Copy to:
anthony.housefather@parl.gc.ca
michael.wiseman.826@parl.gc.ca
Thank you so much for your ongoing support and commitment.
Please send this letter:
Dear Chair and Members of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights,
I am a supporter of repealing section 43 of the criminal code (or something else about who you are!).
I urge the Committee to complete the clause-by-clause examination of bill C-273 and send the bill to the House for Third Reading as soon as possible.
Canada ended corporal punishment of apprentices in 1955, of prisoners in 1968, as a judicial sentence in 1972, and of ships’ crews in 2001. We can no longer hit sailors or inmates, but we can still hit 2-year-olds. This situation cannot stand. Canada ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1991 and has been repeatedly admonished for not upholding its obligation to remove the legal justification for any level of violence against children.
The TRC called for repeal of section 43 as a vital act of reconciliation, calling it “a relic of a discredited past [that] has no place in Canadian schools or homes.” It is a colonial law that violates children’s rights to protection, dignity, and physical security. The point is not whether punching a child is still legal. The point is, as Murray Sinclair stated, “that children are totally dependent on adults for their basic needs. When their rights are violated, their lack of power renders them incapable of resistance or of taking action. Their vulnerability also causes them significant emotional and mental harm, precisely because correctional assaults are inflicted on them by adults that they depend on for protection, for love and for emotional well-being.”
The Canadian Teachers Federation is the only professional organization in Canada that does not realize that every citizen has access to section 34 should they use force to protect themselves or others. Almost 700 other organizations have called for full repeal of section 43 without any fear of spurious charges. These include the Canadian Academy of Sport and Exercise Medicine, Canadian Association of Paediatric Health Centres, Canadian Association of Paediatric Nurses, Canadian Dental Association, Canadian Institute of Child Health, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Paediatric Society, Canadian Public Health Association, College of Family Physicians of Canada, and National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health. Many major faith groups have called for full repeal. And 63 school boards have called for full repeal without conditions.
Parents and teachers will be fully protected under section 34. In addition, they have access to the common law defence of necessity. And they have a legal duty of care. Teachers who do as the CTF’s lawyer advises – to not intervene if children are being hurt – will be guilty of negligence.
There is no reason to delay. Thousands of children have been hit and hurt since bill C-273 was introduced. Each day of delay puts more children at risk of harm. Many will be beaten because the law tells their parents it’s ok to hit them. Some will be killed, as the violence escalates.
On April 30, the International Day to End Corporal Punishment of Children, please complete the clause-by-clause examination and move the bill forward to the House of Commons with urgency. Children are counting on you.
Sincerely,
Chers président et membres du Comité permanent de la justice et des droits de l’homme,
Je demande instamment à la commission d’achever l’examen article par article du projet de loi C-273 et d’envoyer le projet de loi à la Chambre pour la troisième lecture dès que possible.
Le Canada a mis fin aux châtiments corporels sur les apprentis en 1955, sur les prisonniers en 1968, en tant que peine judiciaire en 1972, et sur les équipages de navires en 2001. On ne peut plus frapper les marins ou les détenus, mais on peut encore frapper les enfants de 2 ans. Cette situation ne peut plus durer.
Le Canada a ratifié la Convention des Nations unies relative aux droits de l’enfant en 1991 et a été maintes fois réprimandé pour ne pas avoir respecté son obligation de supprimer la justification légale de tout niveau de violence à l’encontre des enfants.
La Commission Vérité et Réconciliation a demandé l’abrogation de l’article 43 en tant qu’acte vital de réconciliation, le qualifiant de “relique d’un passé discrédité [qui] n’a pas sa place dans les écoles ou les foyers canadiens”. Il s’agit d’une loi coloniale qui viole les droits des enfants à la protection, à la dignité et à la sécurité physique. La question n’est pas de savoir si donner un coup de poing à un enfant est encore légal. La question est, comme l’a déclaré Murray Sinclair, “que les enfants sont totalement dépendants des adultes pour leurs besoins fondamentaux. Lorsque leurs droits sont violés, leur manque de pouvoir les rend incapables de résister ou d’agir. Leur vulnérabilité leur cause également un préjudice émotionnel et mental important, précisément parce que les agressions correctionnelles leur sont infligées par des adultes dont ils dépendent pour leur protection, leur amour et leur bien-être émotionnel”.
La Fédération canadienne des enseignantes et des enseignants est la seule organisation professionnelle au Canada qui ne se rend pas compte que tout citoyen a accès à l’article 34 s’il utilise la force pour se protéger ou protéger les autres. Près de 700 autres organisations ont demandé l’abrogation totale de l’article 43, sans craindre de faire l’objet d’accusations fallacieuses. Il s’agit notamment de l’Académie canadienne de médecine du sport et de l’exercice physique, de l’Association canadienne des centres de santé pédiatriques, de l’Association canadienne des infirmières et infirmiers en pédiatrie, de l’Association dentaire canadienne, de l’Institut canadien de la santé infantile, de l’Association médicale canadienne, de la Société canadienne de pédiatrie, de l’Association canadienne de santé publique, du Collège des médecins de famille du Canada et du Centre de collaboration nationale de la santé autochtone. De nombreux groupes religieux importants ont demandé l’abrogation totale de la loi. Et 63 conseils scolaires ont demandé l’abrogation totale sans conditions.
Les parents et les enseignants seront pleinement protégés par l’article 34. En outre, ils ont accès à la défense de common law de la nécessité. Et ils ont un devoir légal de diligence. Les enseignants qui font ce que conseille l’avocat de la FCE – ne pas intervenir si des enfants sont blessés – se rendront coupables de négligence.
Il n’y a aucune raison de retarder les choses. Des milliers d’enfants ont été frappés et blessés depuis l’introduction du projet de loi C-273. Chaque jour de retard met plus d’enfants en danger. Beaucoup seront battus parce que la loi dit à leurs parents qu’il est acceptable de les frapper. Certains seront tués à cause de l’escalade de la violence.
Le 30 avril, Journée internationale