Frank Caputo speaking in the House of Commons. (Image Credit: CPC)

By Dylana Kneeshaw

BILL C-291

Kamloops MP’s push to change ‘child pornography’ language in Criminal Code takes effect

Oct 10, 2025 | 2:47 PM

KAMLOOPS — A Kamloops-area MP’s bill to change language used in Canada’s legal system goes into effect Friday. Bill C-291 was brought forward by Kamloops-Thompson-Nicola MP Frank Caputo.

It will end the use of the term ‘child pornography’ and instead have it called ‘child sexual abuse and exploitation material’ in any legal context.

“Nobody will be charged now with possessing child pornography. They will be charged with possessing child sexual abuse and exploitation material,” explains Caputo. “It’s important to recognize that children can’t consent and pornography implies consent. We need to call it what it is, which is sexual abuse.”

Caputo’s bill was sponsored by Kamloops-Shuswap-Central Rockies MP Mel Arnold and it became law last year, but it couldn’t come into effect until one year after it received royal assent.

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“I stood on doorsteps and said that I would make this change, it was actually in my first speech in the House of Commons.” recalls Caputo. “As somebody who prosecuted internet offences against kids, I always hated this terminology.”

The term ‘child sex abuse and exploitation materials’ will also replace ‘child pornography’ in the 2026 edition of the Criminal Code of Canada.