How was the upper limit of 18 years in the Act decided?

Most cultures around the world agree that an adult is a person who has passed his or her eighteenth birthday. In Canada, our laws state that after that age, individuals have the right to vote, enter into contracts, and make valid wills, among other things. After the age of 18, a Canadian citizen is considered to be fully responsible for his or her actions, and must face the full, legal consequences of those actions.

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May 2003 More Youth Criminal Justice Act FAQs:

• Introduction
• Arrest / Police
• Extrajudicial Measures
• Extrajudicial Sanctions
• Youth Court

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