S-209Protecting Young Persons from Exposure to Pornography Act
An Act to restrict young persons’ online access to pornographic material
Senate public bill, introduced in the Senate on May 28, 2025
- Status
- At second reading in the House of Commons since April 30, 2026
- Sponsor
- Julie Miville-DechêneSenator
- Senator
What it does
Creates an offence for organizations that make pornographic material available online to people under 18, and lets the government seek court orders to block access.
What it does
- Creates an offence for any organization that, for commercial purposes, makes pornographic material available on the Internet to a young person. The fine is up to $250,000 for a first offence and up to $500,000 for later offences.
- Allows a designated federal enforcement authority to issue a notice when it has reasonable grounds to believe an organization broke the law. The notice sets out the steps needed to comply and gives the organization 20 days to act.
- Lets the enforcement authority ask the Federal Court for an order requiring Internet service providers to prevent young persons in Canada from accessing the material if the organization does not fix the problem after notice.
- Sets defences for organizations that used a prescribed age-verification or age-estimation method, had a legitimate purpose related to science, medicine, education or the arts, or complied with a notice.
- Allows regulations to set age-verification rules, define when free material is not commercial, and create administrative monetary penalties for failing to follow a notice.
Who it affects
- Online platforms
- Internet service providers
- Organizations that share pornographic material online
- Young persons under 18
- Federal enforcement authorities
Background
The bill defines pornographic material, young person, and Internet service provider for its purposes. It also lets the Governor in Council designate the minister responsible for the Act.
Where it is
Senate
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Completed.
Committee
Completed.
Report stage
Completed.
Third reading
Completed.
House of Commons
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Current stage. Now here
Committee
Not reached.
Report stage
Not reached.
Third reading
Not reached.
Royal assent
Royal assent
Not reached.
Introduced by a senator. If the Senate passes it, it goes to the House of Commons, where an MP must agree to sponsor it. How a bill becomes law
How the House voted
No recorded votes yet
What MPs said
Each party’s first speech on this bill in the House, from Hansard. Excerpts are the speaker’s opening sentences, unedited.
LiberalTaleeb Noormohamed· September 24, 2026
“I am pleased to rise today to speak to Bill S-209 and the government's work to protect young people from online harms as technology evolves in front of us. I also want to begin by thanking and recognizing Senator Miville-Dechêne for bringing this initiative to Parliament and for her continued work to better protect children online.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caConservativeRosemarie Falk· September 24, 2026
“Bill S-209 is a response to that lack of a safeguard. I am grateful to Senator Julie Miville-Dechêne for her persistence and dedication in addressing this issue and for her commitment to protecting children online.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caBlocAndréanne Larouche· September 24, 2026
“The Bloc Québécois is in favour of studying this bill in committee. I want to say that from the outset.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.ca
Read the source
LEGISinfo status: At second reading in the House of Commons. Bill data from LEGISinfo, votes from openparliament.ca and the House of Commons. Last updated October 13, 2026.