October Dedicated to Children's Online Safety and Privacy

I was very proud to have my colleague from Orléans, Stephen Blais, co-sponsor Bill 66, Kids’ Online Safety and Privacy Month Act.

The Bill passed third reading unanimously—a rare show of all-party support at Queen’s Park and a meaningful moment of consensus in what is often a very divided Legislature.

Bill 66 received Royal Assent on December 11 from Her Honour Edith Dumont, the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.

Going forward, October will be recognized as Kids’ Online Safety and Privacy Month in Ontario. This designation will give parents, educators, community groups, police services, and governments an opportunity to focus on both the benefits and the risks of online activity in the lives of children. This marks my second Bill to be passed into law.

Protecting Children from Online Threats and Bullying

Every parent in Ontario knows the worry that comes with giving a child a device. The internet is now embedded in every part of their lives, from learning to gaming to simply connecting with friends. But alongside those opportunities come real dangers that too many families only learn about after it is far too late.

Today, child predators are not lurking in the dark corners of the internet, they are entering our homes through the most popular platforms our kids use every day.

Through online games, such as Roblox, Minecraft and countless others, predators can disguise themselves, build trust with children and slowly begin grooming them, often without a parent having any idea that it is happening. And of course, traditional social media platforms continue to expose young people to cyberbullying, exploitation, trafficking and manipulation.

This is not theoretical. Police forces across Ontario are sounding the alarm. Educators are overwhelmed. Parents are terrified that despite doing everything right, someone can still reach their child through a game or an app on a school-issued device.

That is why I introduced legislation to proclaim October as Kids’ Online Safety and Privacy Month. This is a dedicated, province-wide effort to educate families, strengthen awareness and empower parents with the tools they need to keep their children safe.

The month of October will highlight the importance of digital supervision, responsible online habits and honest conversations in our schools. It will remind all of us, parents, teachers, tech companies and legislators, that protecting kids online is a deeply shared responsibility.

We cannot allow predators more access to our children than their own parents have. By raising awareness and strengthening education, we can help kids in Ontario navigate the digital world with confidence and ensure they come home safe.