OTTAWA — Liberal MPs say Conservative MP Arnold Viersen is being “silenced” as a House of Commons committee is attempting to study his bill to stop online sexual exploitation while child protection groups are calling on MPs to put aside their differences and move the bill forward with or without him.

Viersen’s private member’s bill, C-270, seeks to prohibit individuals and companies from making, distributing or advertising pornographic material without having first made sure that the people depicted were at least 18 years of age and gave their express consent.