(Quebec) Prime Minister François Legault asks for the “collaboration” of parents in order to “limit” young people’s screen time.
In a press scrum at the National Assembly on Tuesday, Mr. Legault refused to say whether he was going to legislate to reduce young people’s exposure to screens, preferring instead to talk about the role of parents.
“The real challenge is what’s happening at home,” he said. Parents must also collaborate so that screen time is limited. »
The day before, in Montreal, the minister responsible for Social Services, Lionel Carmant, had not ruled out legislating on the use of screens for young people and families.
Mr. Carmant indicated that the government will soon begin its reflection on the second Quebec Strategy on the use of screens and the health of young people.
“We want a version that is very adapted to Quebec reality,” he said. I’ll tell you upfront, nothing is excluded. If it is necessary to legislate, we will legislate. »
He did not give further details on a possible law, but stressed that “everything is a question of balance between raising awareness among the population and developing the digital skills of young people”.
On Tuesday, Mr. Legault recognized that the overexposure of young people to screens “is a problem, it’s a problem everywhere in the world.”
He recalled that his government has already banned the use of cell phones in class, with exceptions, and prohibits screens in daycares for children under the age of two.
The Legault government also held a consultation on the use of screens and the health of young people during its first mandate.