Strengthening online safety for families – conservatives seek your feedback

Posted on August 27, 2026 by Ryan Dahlman

Glen Motz, MP

Although Parliament has adjourned for the summer and Members of Parliament are active in their constituencies, the Conservative Official Opposition’s responsibility of holding the federal government to account has not paused. 

An issue that has come to the forefront this summer is the online safety of our children and grandchildren. While the internet offers incredible benefits as a tool for learning, creative expression, and vital social engagement, this constant connectivity also exposes young people to a fast-moving and complex environment that is increasingly difficult to navigate. 

Because the online world evolves much faster than standard safety guidelines, families face the modern challenge of trying to harness the benefits of connectivity while protecting children from physical, emotional and psychological harm. These are serious challenges that demand thoughtful, effective legislative solutions that genuinely protect children and empower families.

After more than a decade in government, the Liberals recently introduced their third attempt to implement measures to prevent “online harms.” Bill C-34, The Safe Social Media Act, purports to make online platforms safer by requiring them to reduce harmful content, protect children through safety measures and age restrictions, remove certain illegal content, increase transparency, and comply with strengthened oversight and enforcement under a new Digital Safety Commission of Canada. It also would allow Canadians to file complaints about specific harmful content and provide feedback on platforms’ compliance.

Every parent wants to know their child is safe online. Conservatives share parents’ concerns about what their children are exposed to and the goal of protecting them. On its face, C-34 appears to be a step in the right direction. However, serious questions remain as to whether this legislation will deliver meaningful results. Furthermore, we have learned over the course of ten years that the Liberals cannot be trusted with broad powers to regulate the internet. Their record raises serious concerns, including failures to protect privacy, government censorship, and weak safeguards that do little to prevent overreach or abuse.

Over the summer, our Conservative team will be taking the time to carefully review C-34. Our examination of, and response to the bill, will be guided by principles of public safety, parental rights, and individual freedom.

Specifically – protecting children online is a top priority for Conservatives. We believe that children should not be exposed to sexually explicit content online, and digital platforms have a responsibility to ensure minors cannot access this type of material. Children must also be protected from those who seek to exploit or harm them online, as well as from content and platform features that can contribute to negative mental health outcomes.

At the same time, any approach to online safety must recognize that parents are the primary decision-makers in their children’s lives. Governments and tech companies should support, not replace, parental authority by ensuring families have the tools and information needed to navigate the digital world safely. Ultimately, these measures must empower parents while strictly respecting and protecting the privacy rights of children and their families.

When MPs return to Ottawa in the fall, we will have our first opportunity to debate Bill C-34 and study it at committee. At the heart of this discussion are the families who navigate these challenges every day. As your Member of Parliament, I would greatly appreciate your thoughts on any or all the following questions. Your responses will help to guide our Conservative approach to the debate and our eventual vote on the legislation:

• What are your biggest concerns about your child’s safety and well-being online? 

• What online harms do you believe require the most urgent action to address? 

• What role should parents, platforms, and government each play in protecting children online? 

• Do you believe parents currently have the tools and information they need to keep their children safe online? What is missing? 

• Are there online platforms, features, or practices that you believe negatively affect children’s mental health?

• What responsibilities should online platforms carry to prevent children from accessing harmful content or being targeted by harmful actors? 

• What protection should exist to prevent the non-consensual distribution of intimate images, including those generated by AI?

• What concerns, if any, would you have if all Canadians were required to prove they are over 16 to open or keep a social media account?

• How important is protecting your child’s privacy when implementing online safety measures? How important is protecting your privacy?

• Would you be comfortable with the use of age estimation or age verification tools to verify a person’s age to access pornographic content? Why or why not? 

• What safeguards would you want to see if new online safety rules or oversight mechanisms were to come into force?

I truly appreciate your feedback. Responses can be made to my parliamentary office by emailing glen.motz@parl.gc.ca. Please include in the subject line, “C-34 Feedback”.   This will greatly assist my staff in registering your comments and concerns. 

Thank you for your help in improving government legislation for the benefit of all Canadians. I wish you and yours a safe and enjoyable summer.