Prostitution in Canada

 

From CBC News, 2009: “An Ontario court has thrown out key provisions of Canada’s anti-prostitution laws in response to a constitutional challenge brought by a Toronto dominatrix and two prostitutes in 2009. Ontario’s Superior Court of Justice ruled Tuesday the Criminal Code provisions relating to prostitution contribute to the danger faced by sex-trade workers. Dominatrix Terri-Jean Bedford and Valerie Scott and Amy Lebovitch had argued that prohibitions on keeping a common bawdy house, communicating for the purposes of prostitution and living on the avails of the trade force them from the safety of their homes to face violence on the streets.The women asked the court to declare legal restrictions on their activities a violation of charter rights of security of the person and freedom of expression.”


Prostitution in Canada – 16×9

Sex for sale: Canadian hookers take the law to court! Find out if legal brothels will soon be coming to a street near you. Daryl Konynenbelt reports. August 2012

Here is a pretty honest and good look at the laws surrounding prostitution in Canada they way they are right now, and the challenges being made within the Supreme Court of Canada.

 

Alan Young: Decriminalizing Prostitution

Recently, the Ontario Superior Court ruled three federal prostitution laws as unconstitutional. The Agenda speaks to Alan Young, the Osgoode Hall Lawyer at the forefront of the landmark legal challenge. October 2010.

This one is a couple years old, but still has lots of great, informative information about the laws and changes.

Additionally, here is an interesting and easy to understand article explaining what could be next after the laws are struck down and what sex workers want and need in a post-decrim Canada. April 2013

The Sex Workers Are Coming – By Joyce Arthur