Pornography in Canada
Pornography in Canada has changed since the 1960s when the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1968-69 that suppressed various laws related to sexual norms was passed.
Contents
Science
A 2009 study at the University of Montreal did not find any men, among the 20 men they interviewed, in their 20s who claimed to have never viewed pornography.[1]
Sale of hardcore pornography
The sale of hardcore pornography is illegal in Canada to anyone under the age of 18 (19 in some provinces), but anyone above that age may own or possess pornography.
Distribution
Most pornography is sold in adult stores, on adult websites or convenience stores. No specific laws control distribution of pornography. The Canada Border Services Agency is empowered to stop the importation of materials prohibited under obscenity laws. Many gay and lesbian bookstores have claimed that this is applied in a discriminatory manner against same-sex pornographic material.
Television stations
Conversely, some over-the-air television stations (particularly Citytv and TQS) often broadcast softcore pornographic films after midnight. Hardcore films also air on MX excess, one of the seven multiplex channels operated by The Movie Network. In addition, pornographic films may be publicly shown (to those above the age of 18) and advertised, as is the case in some stores on Yonge Street in Toronto and Ste-Catherine Street in Montreal.
