In late November, Manitoba introduced legislation that could amend the province's Child and Family Services Act to expand the definition of child abuse to encompass child pornography. On December 3, the Globe and Mail responded with the editorial "A bill too far".

In turn, Paul Gillespie has responded with the following letter to the editor:

Your editorial, A Bill Too Far (Dec. 3), rightly points out child pornography and its production are among society's greatest evils. You wrongly conclude, however, that Manitoba's proposed legislation goes too far.

Fear mongers raised the child-in-the-bath bogus argument when child pornography legislation was introduced in 1993. The argument didn't hold water then either, precisely because it is so easy to tell the difference between sinister and innocent imagery.

In the entire 14-year history of the legislation no one can point to persecution of parents taking candid photos of kids in the bath. The Internet is a wonderful tool but it is also a place with dark corners where evil lurks. Bills like the one introduced in Manitoba take a small step toward shining a little sunshine into these dark corners - and a little sunshine is a great disinfectant.

Paul Gillespie, CEO
Kids' Internet Safety Alliance