A Calgary woman, Sara Austin, is spearheading a national campaign urging the federal government to revive and strengthen the Online Harms Act, aimed at protecting children from harmful online content. The coalition, including parents and educators, plans to launch the Countdown for Kids campaign in Parliament, advocating for the bill’s reintroduction before year-end. With over 17,500 cases of online child sexual exploitation investigated in Alberta in recent years, advocates stress the urgent need for regulatory measures. The federal justice minister’s office has indicated ongoing efforts to introduce legislation focused on child protection online, in line with a 2021 Liberal campaign promise.
