Are 16 and 17 year olds also protected against sexual exploitation?
The Criminal Code protects 16- and 17-year-olds against sexual exploitation, where the sexual activity
occurs within a relationship of trust, authority, dependency, or where there is other exploitation. Whether
a relationship is considered to be exploiting the 16- or 17-year-old will depend upon the nature and
circumstances of the relationship, e.g., the age of the young person, the age difference between the young
person and their partner, how the relationship developed and how the partner may have controlled or
influenced the young person. As well, 16- and 17-year-olds cannot consent to sexual activity that involves
prostitution or pornography