The Canadian government is to criminalise surfing for child pornography on the Internet.
Officials said they were unaware of any other country with similar legislation to crack down on the mushrooming child-porn trade.
"Combating crimes committed using the Internet is crucial, particularly when it comes to the most vulnerable members of our society - our children," said Justice Minister Ms Anne McLellan.
Accessing child pornography would carry a penalty of up to five years in prison.
The bill is not meant to catch people who inadvertently open e-mail attachments or Web pages that have child pornography, but those who "knowingly cause child pornography to be viewed", said federal justice official Mr Yvan Roy.
The legislation would create new criminal offences of transmitting child porn, for example, by e-mail; of providing child-porn Web addresses; and of exporting it from Canada. Each would be punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Importing child porn is already illegal.
AP