Overview of the Promise

During his campaign for prime minister, Mark Carney pledged to amend the Mandatory Reporting Act, specifically to extend the period of preservation of data related to child sexual offences and to extend the limitation period for the prosecution of offences under that Act. This promise aimed to strengthen protections against child sexual exploitation by ensuring that critical evidence remains available longer and that prosecutors have more time to bring cases forward.

Actions Taken by the Carney Government

Since taking office following the 2025 federal election, the Carney government has prioritized public safety and child protection, as evidenced by announcements and legislative initiatives. In April 2025, Carney outlined a public safety plan that included measures to protect children from exploitation, aligning with this promise. The government has focused on updating laws related to online harms and child sexual abuse material.

A key development is the introduction of legislation addressing child sexual abuse and exploitation. In April 2025, an Act to amend the Criminal Code and make consequential amendments to other Acts was enacted, focusing on child sexual abuse and exploitation material. This act retitles references to "child pornography" as "child sexual abuse material" and includes provisions that could support data preservation efforts, though it does not directly amend the Mandatory Reporting Act for the specific extensions promised.

Additionally, the government has explored reintroducing or rewriting the Online Harms Act (formerly Bill C-63), which died on the order paper in January 2025 due to prorogation. In June 2025, Justice Minister Sean Fraser indicated plans for a fresh consideration of the bill, potentially updating it to include technological advancements and amendments to the mandatory reporting framework. This could encompass extensions to data preservation periods for internet service providers reporting child sexual exploitation material.

The government also announced $39.7 million in funding in March 2025 to protect children from online sexual exploitation, which supports related enforcement but does not directly fulfill the legislative amendments.

Progress on Specific Promise Elements

The promise consists of two main points: extending the period of preservation of data related to child sexual offences and extending the limitation period for prosecution under the Act.

On the first point, there have been discussions and bills that touch on data preservation in the context of online child exploitation. For instance, the proposed updates to the Online Harms Act include requirements for platforms to address harmful content, including child sexual abuse material, which implies stronger data handling and preservation rules. However, no specific amendment to extend preservation periods in the Mandatory Reporting Act has been passed as of August 2025.

On the second point, extending the limitation period for prosecution, related reforms have been seen in bills like those strengthening the National Sex Offender Registry, but these do not directly target the Mandatory Reporting Act's prosecution timelines. Private member's bills, such as Bill C-216 (Promotion of Safety in the Digital Age Act) introduced in June 2025, aim to enhance digital safety but fall short of the promised extensions.

Legislation Proposed or Passed

Several pieces of legislation relate to this issue. The Act to amend the Criminal Code (child sexual abuse and exploitation material), effective from 2025, updates terminology and penalties but does not fully address the promise's specifics. Bill C-63, the Online Harms Act, proposed amendments to the Criminal Code and the Act respecting the mandatory reporting of Internet child pornography, including measures against child sexual exploitation. Although it died in early 2025, the government has signaled intent to revive it, potentially incorporating the promised changes.

Other relevant actions include reforms to the Sex Offender Information Registration Act in 2023 (prior to Carney's term), which were strengthened in October 2023, but these predate the promise and do not fulfill it. As of the current date, no bill has been passed that explicitly amends the Mandatory Reporting Act in the ways promised.

Current Status and Path Forward

The Carney government has initiated steps through funding and bill discussions, indicating movement toward fulfillment. To become kept, the government must introduce and pass legislation specifically amending the Mandatory Reporting Act to extend data preservation periods and prosecution limitation periods, ideally before the end of the parliamentary session. If no such bill is advanced or if it fails to pass by the next election or term end, the promise is at risk of being broken.

Overall Status

This promise is in progress.