Ontario superior court strikes down some prostitution laws!

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/100928/national/bawdy_law_challenge

The judge found that laws against keeping a common bawdy house, communicating for the purposes of prostitution and living on the avails of the trade "are not in accord with the principles of fundamental justice."

Consenting adults! Hip, Hip, hoorah!
Even Stephen Harper is happy about this one!

I thought prostitution was legal in Canada?

It was all of the sub categories that weren't legal.

A friend posted these in another forum, of what wasn't legal.

- "common bawdy houses", which include anywhere used regularly for the purposes of exchanging sexual gratification for some form of consideration (a case in '70s ruled that a hooker's apartment constituted a bawdy house because she used it all the time). Being found in one without reason, owning, managing, leasing, etc. were (are) illegal.
- transporting someone to a common bawdy house
- procuring prostitutes or "living on the avails of prostitution" (i.e. being a pimp)
- paying anyone under the age of 18 for sex
- communicating in a public place for the purposes of prostitution

I have no qualms really about prostitution, but saying that it's unconstitutional to have the rules because it puts sex trade workers in danger just seems dumb.

What I mean is, if you aren't involved in the sex trade, which generally isn't considered kosher, you wouldn't be putting yourself in danger. You aren't protected because it's not entirely legal. People heavily involved in the drug trade are in danger all of the time! This challenge kind of scares me if it sticks. Could it apply to some of the other darker "trades"?

The law isn't causing the violence to these women. This just seems like a back door approach to legalize. Why not just lobby for what Holland has? At some point the gov't will have to see it as a guaranteed way to shovel in some more tax money. Can't stop it.

Having any rules regarding what consenting adults want to do is ridiculous! The "Stephen Harper" , "church going", "holier than though", group of uptight people, have caused more grief than any one of us will ever know.
Trudeau had it right when he said he wanted to get the government out of the bedrooms of the public.
It is none of our business. It is not a new business.
That isn't right! Why isn't it right? Because you were taught that in Church, by hippocrates in cloth?

rosencrentz wrote:Having any rules regarding what consenting adults want to do is ridiculous! The "Stephen Harper" , "church going", "holier than though", group of uptight people, have caused more grief than any one of us will ever know.
Trudeau had it right when he said he wanted to get the government out of the bedrooms of the public.
It is none of our business. It is not a new business.
That isn't right! Why isn't it right? Because you were taught that in Church, by hippocrates in cloth?

Rosen, and what does your faith's Rabbis, Chazzan and Kohein have to say on this subject?

Anyhow, I think that these women deserve to be protected. I think all the criminal laws in reguards to prostitution should be struck down.

If the courts strike them down due to the safety of these women, then these matters should fall under provincial jurisdiction. Labor and workplace safety are provincial responsibilities, therefor each province should be left to decide to how best protect these women. I wouldnt mind if they all had to pay income tax and WCB premiums. Fair is Fair.




**On a side note, and since this is Manitobastan. Maybe these prostitues should Unionize. SOWS local #1 (Sisterhood Of Whores And Sluts). Just kidding here... please do not take this last paragraph seriously.

Every religion is so full of bullcrap, including the jewish religion. This statement is being printed with the writer not aware of any thing Jewish that elates to prostitution.
If any bible, written thousands of years ago, refers to prostitution, than I would say that maybe that act of prostitution has been around for that many years, and laws regarding what consenting adults do, is none of anybody's damn business.

I'm pretty sure that I've said it before, but here it goes again.

I truly believe that its not the government's business what goes on between consenting adults, but, from my experience at work, there is so much prostitution in this city which involves girls as young as 13, and drugs are a major factor.

The prostitution that we see is not a scene out of "Pretty Woman" and I'm not clear on how easing these laws will correct the situation. There are many "innocent" victims of prostitution.

Freeman wrote:I'm pretty sure that I've said it before, but here it goes again.

I truly believe that its not the government's business what goes on between consenting adults, but, from my experience at work, there is so much prostitution in this city which involves girls as young as 13, and drugs are a major factor.

The prostitution that we see is not a scene out of "Pretty Woman" and I'm not clear on how easing these laws will correct the situation. There are many "innocent" victims of prostitution.

You speak of exploitation of the young and/or vulnrable. That in itself is a serious matter that should be discussed and dealt with.

and one that was covered by the laws against child prostitution were not struck down.

I understand that child prostitution is another law, but I just believe that its going to be very difficult to separate and enforce.

I have to admit that this kind of touches home, as most of you haven't seen a 13 yr old kid that you know and talk to, in school one week, and then see her on a street corner the next week flashing cars.

Most of us are reasonable and decent people, but theres lots out there that don't seem to be able to make the distinction between consenting adults and children.

Imo, they are two very seperate issues.

Remember, even the pros don't like to see kids on the street.

JTF wrote:Remember, even the pros don't like to see kids on the street.

Haven't talked to any lately, but I'll take your word.

Heh...honest...I get my info on the subject from TV reports...not that I have anything against prostitutes. Seriously.

JTF wrote:Heh...honest...I get my info on the subject from TV reports...not that I have anything against prostitutes. Seriously.

I completely understand, thousands wouldn't but I do.

...just as long as The Muse does.