An image was released by X-Site, an Alberta-based energy company, depicting a sticker that was meant to be distributed to their employees to wear on their hard hats. The picture appears to depict 17-year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg being engaged in non-consensual sexual acts. When questioned by concerned citizens, general manager Doug Sparrow indicated he was aware of the stickers, and stated that, at 17, Thunberg is not a child. 

In Canada, the age of majority is 18 years old. Distributing explicit images of anyone under that age is considered distribution of child pornography, an indictable offence with a mandatory minimum of one year in jail and a maximum of 14 years under section 163.1 (1) of the Criminal Code of Canada. 

While the RCMP has said they don’t consider this to be child pornography, I think most people can agree that distributing images of sexual assault, or sexual images of anyone under the age of 18 is wrong on many levels. This image is both of those abhorrent things.

Together, we can show that this disgusting and deplorable behaviour will not go unnoticed in Canada. We call on all executives involved in the making or distribution of the image to step down, and issue a public apology for their actions.