There is nothing that prohibits someone in Canada from “dating” a minor, sixteen years of age and younger, so long as the date does not involve sexual activity.
Canada's age of consent
The age of consent to sexual activity is 16 years. In some cases, the age of consent is higher (for example, when there is a relationship of trust, authority or dependency). In other words, a person must be at least 16 years old to be able to legally agree to sexual activity.
It wouldn't be illegal for someone who's 16 to have a relationship with someone who is 30 - unless that person is their teacher or in a position of authority. - feel equal, safe and trust one another. It's also important to feel comfortable telling family and friends about the relationship.
The age of sexual consent in Canada is 16, except where the other person is in a position of trust or authority, in which case it's 18. So, if the 25 year old is a teacher, priest, etc., any sexual contact would be a criminal offence. If not a person in a position of trust or authority, then it's legally ok.
It is generally legal for a 16-year-old to date a 19-year-old. The relationship cannot be sexual. It's illegal to have sexual relations with a 16-year-old if you're 19.
When someone is 16 years old they are able to consent to sexual activity with a person who is 14 or older. The only exception would be when the older person is in a position of power, trust, or authority (see Sexual Exploitation Laws for detail).
An age gap of 10 years or more is considered a big difference. When one person has a decade more life experience than their partner, the couple might be incompatible. You're likely to have different circles of friends, different interests, and different life goals.
In Canada, the age of consent to sexual activity is 16. The “close in age” rule means that: 12- and 13-year-olds can be sexual with people who are no more than two years older than them. 14- and 15-year-olds can be sexual with people who are no more than five years older than them.
Age of consent is 16
The only exception would be when the older person is in a position of power, trust, or authority (see Sexual Exploitation Laws for detail). Sources: Criminal Code of Canada, Section 150.1 “Frequently Asked Questions:Age of Consent to Sexual Activity” (Justice Canada).
The law allows 12- and 13-year-olds to legally consent to sexual contact or sexual relations with a person up to two years older than them under certain conditions. For instance, a 12-year-old could legally consent to sexual contact or relations with a 14-year-old, but not with a 15-year-old.
If you are 16 years old and above, you can legally have sex (or do another sexual activity) with another person who is 16 years or older as long as you both agree to it.
There is nothing that prohibits someone in Canada from “dating” a minor, sixteen years of age and younger, so long as the date does not involve sexual activity.
It lets you chart acceptable age discrepancies that adjust over the years. According to the rule, for example, a 30-year-old should be with a partner who is at least 22, while a 50-year-old's dating partner must be at least 32 to not attract (presumed) social sanction.
The legal age of consent in Canada is 16 years old.
These exceptions only apply if the older person is not in a position of authority or trust and there is no exploitation or dependency.
The age of consent in Canada is 16 years. This is the age that criminal law recognizes the legal capacity of a young person to consent to sexual activity. Generally, it is legal to have sexual contact with someone who is 16 years or older if they agree to have sex with you.
"Half-your-age-plus-seven" rule
An often-asserted rule of thumb to determine whether an age difference is socially acceptable holds that a person should never date someone whose age is less than half their own plus seven years.
According to reports, Nigeria has the lowest age of consent across the world at 11 years which is followed by Angola at 12 years. On the other hand, in countries like the United Kingdom the age of consent is 16, in Greece and France it is 15 and 14 in Germany, and Italy.
From 1890 until recently, the age at which a youth could consent to nonexploitative sexual activity was 14 years (1). With the recent change to the criminal code of Canada, the age of consent for nonexploitative sexual activity is now 16 years.
For those who'd like to put a number to things, usually, a gap of 1-7 years can be considered an acceptable age difference between adults. People whose ages are within 1-3 years typically do not see much of an age difference, while years 4-7 might begin to feel a little bit more pronounced.
If you are 16 or 17, you have reached the age of consent for sexual activity, as long as your partner is at least 14 years old.
Think of 10 years as a general guideline, but be open to other ages as well—and don't limit yourself to dating only someone older. "'Cast a wide net' is what I tell all my clients,” Sussman says.
In the United States, the 16th birthday is a mark that a girl has come of age. She is not a legal adult yet, but 16 is when many girls learn to drive, can get jobs and assume other adult responsibilities. For many people, the 16th birthday is a celebration of womanhood and marks the end of a girl's childhood.
You are both adults you can date who you want. So it's not weird, just someone you've fallen in love with.
A man can also marry a woman who's older or younger than him. What really matters is that they love and understand each other. When it comes to marriage and relationships, age is no longer a number!