OTTAWA, ON, Oct. 15, 2026 /CNW/ -- Protecting children and youth from online exploitation requires prevention, education and strong community partnerships.

Today, the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety, announced  $800,000 over five years for the National Association of Friendship Centres (NAFC) to support the Bringing Empowerment, Awareness, Culture and Online Navigation (BEACON) Project, an Indigenous-led initiative that raises awareness of online child sexual exploitation risks among Indigenous youth and strengthens community-based prevention efforts.

Through the BEACON Project, Friendship Centres across Canada will provide culturally relevant online safety education and work with youth, families, Elders, service providers and community partners to strengthen prevention efforts, support those at risk and help build safer communities.

The BEACON project will also improve the collection of information on Indigenous youth experiences online, helping to ensure future policies, programs and prevention strategies are informed by and responsive to Indigenous perspectives and experiences.

This initiative builds on broader federal efforts to combat online child sexual exploitation and create safer online spaces. Since 2004, Canada's National Strategy for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation on the Internet supports prevention, awareness, law enforcement, victim protection, research and partnerships, while recent and proposed legislative measures strengthen protections for victims and enhance the accountability of social media platforms and AI chatbot services.

This federal investment is made through the Contribution Program to Combat Serious and Organized Crime (CPCSOC), which supports projects and partnerships that help prevent and combat online child sexual exploitation.

Online child sexual exploitation is a complex and growing issue that cannot be addressed by a single program or organization alone. Through CPCSOC, the Government of Canada supports targeted efforts that help prevent harm, strengthen responses to this crime, and ensure children and youth can safely engage in digital spaces.

Quotes

"Across Canada, Friendship Centres are trusted community hubs. They play an important role in creating opportunities, strengthening social connections, and improving well-being for urban Indigenous peoples. By investing in their work, we are helping build stronger support networks, expand access to opportunities, and contribute to safer, stronger, and more inclusive communities for Canadians."

- The Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety

"Indigenous youth deserve to feel safe and supported online. We welcome the Government of Canada's investment in Project BEACON, which will support Indigenous youth in developing culturally relevant tools to prevent online exploitation and other digital harms. Through the Friendship Centre network, we will turn this investment into practical support for Indigenous youth in communities across the country."

- Jennifer Rankin, Chief Executive Officer, National Association of Friendship Centres

Quick facts

• Public Safety Canada leads the National Strategy for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation on the Internet, in partnership with the RCMP, Justice Canada and the Canadian Centre for Child Protection (C3P). 
• Through the National Strategy, the Government of Canada invests over $27 million per year to combat online child sexual exploitation.
• According to self-reported data from the 2019 General Social Survey on Canadians' Safety (Victimization), about 4 in 10 Indigenous people experienced sexual or physical violence by an adult before the age of 15. ¹
• The Safe Social Media Act (Bill C-34), would introduce new safety requirements for social media platforms and AI chatbot services to help prevent online harms before they occur, increase platform accountability and transparency, and better protect children online. The proposed legislation would also establish a minimum age of 16 for social media accounts, while allowing platforms to apply for an exemption if they can demonstrate that adequate safeguards are in place to protect children.

Associated links

• Child Sexual Exploitation on the Internet
• Government of Canada introduces legislation to make social media services and AI chatbots safer for children

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SOURCE Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada (PSEPC)