“The modern confusion between the basic political and social units – explicit in totalitarian systems, implicit in
democracies – brings grief to society in the name of high principle.”1 - William D. Gairdner.
Since 1997, Members of Parliament have...
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“The modern confusion between the basic political and social units – explicit in totalitarian systems, implicit in
democracies – brings grief to society in the name of high principle.”1 - William D. Gairdner.
Since 1997, Members of Parliament have introduced no fewer than eight private member’s bills to fully ban corporal
punishment, also known as physical discipline, smacking, or spanking. Currently, Bill S-204, introduced by Senator
Céline Hervieux-Payette, awaits second reading in the Senate. Her previous effort in 2008 passed through the Senate
but died when an election was called. And it’s not just
Parliamentarians. A 2012 editorial in the Canadian Medical
Association Journal make the same case: “It is time for
Canada to remove this anachronistic excuse for poor
parenting from the statute book.”
In 2004, a case proceeded all the way to the Supreme Court
of Canada. This case challenged section 43 of the Criminal
Code, which allows parents to use corporal discipline as a
defence to
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