Due solely to the efforts of one exceptional girl, the Federal government has announced positive steps toward reducing television violence.
Virginnie Lariviere, a fourteen-year old from Polycarp, PQ, presented a petition asking for legislation “with teeth.” So far, the nation-wide petition has garnered over 1.5 million signatures.
Some of her petition’s recommendations included a ban on violent shows which are aimed at children, airing violent shows after 11 p.m., implementing a tax on violence (TAV) and using this tax to produce non-violent programming.
In response, the government has proposed a voluntary restraint code concerning violence which television industry should adopt. The Association of Canadian advertisers are claiming excessive government influence and censorship and will fight the issue.
However, organizers of the Virginnie campaign feel that the voluntary restraint code will not carry sufficient power and are calling for stricter legislation.
