RUNCIMAN RESOLUTION MAKES TODAY “SAFER INTERNET DAY”
McGuinty yet to flow money for program to protect children from Internet predators
(Queen’s Park) – Leeds-Grenville MPP Bob Runciman moved a resolution last December in the Ontario legislature recognizing February 7, 2007 as “Safer Internet Day” in Ontario “as part of ongoing efforts to combat Internet crimes against children”. The resolution was initially proposed to Runciman by the Kids’ Internet Safety Alliance (KINSA) and supported unanimously by all three parties.
“On behalf of KINSA, I want to thank Bob, Garfield and every member of the Ontario legislature who has taken leadership on this issue,” said Paul Gillespie, Vice Chair of KINSA. “The declaration of ‘Safer Internet Day’ in Ontario is not a solution, but it goes a long way towards bringing attention to the problem, and that’s a start. A little sunshine in the dark and illegal corners of the Internet will be a useful disinfectant to the vile and disgusting elements that lurk there. While the Internet is a great and wonderful tool for kids to learn, explore and meet friends from around the world, too many bad people use it as a place to harm kids – and that has to stop.”
“Safer Internet Day is a unique opportunity to draw the public’s attention to Internet child pornography issues and the lack of action from the McGuinty government on these critical issues,” said Runciman. “Nothing could be more important than protecting our vulnerable children and grandchildren from the significant dangers lurking on the Internet.”
On October 13, 2004, Ontario’s Attorney General announced that a province-wide strategy to combat Internet crimes against children, with funding up to $5 million, would be “put into action” early in 2005. The provincial strategy was re-announced on August 3, 2006, but the money for the program has yet to be flowed.
“This is just another McGuinty broken promise, because police services have yet to receive a penny for this program,” said Garfield Dunlop, PC Critic for Community Safety and Correctional Services. “The $5 million does not come anywhere near the amount needed to effectively fight this problem province-wide. With training, computer and other costs, a more accurate figure is closer to $18 million, when you reference the costs mentioned in the Provincial Strategy prepared by a number of police services under the direction of the OPP.”
