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Age of consent in Canada

The age of consent in Canada is displayed as a chart to highlight the close in age peer group exemptions for ages 12-16

Printable PDF

A print copy of “Age of consent” is available for download.

Age of consent is 16

When someone is 16 years old they are able to consent to sexual activity with a person who is 14 or older. The only exception would be when the older person is in a position of power, trust, or authority (see Sexual Exploitation Laws for detail).

Sources: Criminal Code of Canada, Section 150.1 “Frequently Asked Questions:Age of Consent to Sexual Activity” (Justice Canada).

Available at justice.gc.ca

Close-in-age exemption

Applies only to people who are 14 & 15 years old. When someone is 14 or 15 they are able to consent to sexual activity with a person who is LESS than 5 years older than them.

14-years-old
Can consent to sexual activity with someone up to the age of 18.
15-years-old
Can consent to sexual activity with someone up to the age of 19.

Peer experimentation exemption

Applies only to people who are 12 & 13 years old. When someone is 12 or 13 they are able to consent to sexual activity with a person who is LESS than 2 years older than them.

12-years-old
Can consent to sexual activity with someone up to the age of 13.
13-years-old
Can consent to sexual activity with someone up to the age of 14.

Sexual exploitation laws

Sexual contact involving persons under 18 may only happen between individuals with whom there is no relationship of power, trust, authority or dependency.

Sexual contact involving persons under 18 must be in relationships that are non-exploitive. “Exploitation” depends on how the relationship developed, how the partner may have controlled or influenced the young person, or if it involved luring over the internet, prostitution or pornography. 

Child Sexual Abuse: What You Should Know

Find out more about child sexual abuse, age of consent, and reporting.

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