Canada lifts all restrictions on prostitution

[JackLuis]

Landmark Supreme Court ruling says bans on solicitation and brothels violated sex workers' right to safety.

Canada's top court has overturned all restrictions on prostitution, declaring that existing laws violated sex workers' right to safety.

The Supreme Court of Canada struck down bans on brothels, street solicitation, and living on the earnings of prostitution in a unanimous 9-0 decision on Friday, and gave the Canadian government one year to re-write the country's prostitution laws.

Oh Canada, what's next?

 

[Hypoxia]

Oh Canada, what's next?

Price controls?

 

[1sickbastard]

Price controls?

Likely. They'll probably have the VAT applied as well.
I did note that the current laws will remain in force for a year, to give time for the Provinces to craft new legislation.
So for the time being, I'll go to Canada for the Hockey, the lovely people and the really great booze (not to mention the spectacular scenery).

 

[3113]

I predict a rise in Canadian tourism.

 

[Handley_Page]

" Landmark Supreme Court ruling says bans on solicitation and brothels violated sex workers' right to safety. "

Sorry, but I don't fully understand the relationship between the "right to safety" and prostitution.
Perhaps I really am too stupid. . .

 

[Bramblethorn]

" Landmark Supreme Court ruling says bans on solicitation and brothels violated sex workers' right to safety. "

Sorry, but I don't fully understand the relationship between the "right to safety" and prostitution.
Perhaps I really am too stupid. . .

Serial killers and other violent criminals often target sex workers. Among the reasons: they're less likely to go to the police (especially if reporting the crime would incriminate them), they're less likely to be reported missing (and if they are, the case isn't likely to get the same scrutiny), and the nature of the work can make them vulnerable to predators. The Robert Pickton case has been big news in Canada lately.

Most sex workers are very much aware of this risk, and would like to protect themselves by screening clients, operating in an environment of their own choosing (sometimes with safety in numbers), and in some cases hiring security.

Sex work was already legal in Canada, but the laws that have been struck down criminalised those measures. No "bawdy houses", which prevents working in brothels or even in your own home - you'd have to go to the client's home, which is obviously a bigger risk. No "living on the avails of prostitution", which made it illegal to be paid to provide security for sex workers. And no "communicating in public for the purpose of prostitution" - which puts sex workers under pressure to close the deal as quickly as possible without having time to gauge the guy's mood etc.

 

[PayDay]

Serial killers and other violent criminals often target sex workers. Among the reasons: they're less likely to go to the police (especially if reporting the crime would incriminate them), they're less likely to be reported missing (and if they are, the case isn't likely to get the same scrutiny), and the nature of the work can make them vulnerable to predators. The Robert Pickton case has been big news in Canada lately.

Most sex workers are very much aware of this risk, and would like to protect themselves by screening clients, operating in an environment of their own choosing (sometimes with safety in numbers), and in some cases hiring security.

Sex work was already legal in Canada, but the laws that have been struck down criminalised those measures. No "bawdy houses", which prevents working in brothels or even in your own home - you'd have to go to the client's home, which is obviously a bigger risk. No "living on the avails of prostitution", which made it illegal to be paid to provide security for sex workers. And no "communicating in public for the purpose of prostitution" - which puts sex workers under pressure to close the deal as quickly as possible without having time to gauge the guy's mood etc.

Coincidental?

I don't see this ending well. Too many young girls will see this as acceptable, and government gets to be all over sex taxes now.

You know... Thingy.

 

[DeYaKen]

In Germany prostitution is legal and so are brothels. It is closely regulated with the girls being regularly tested for social diseases. The result is that it takes prostitution off the streets and allows it to be monitored. Because it is a legal source of income the girls and the brothels pay tax on their income which more than covers the cost of regulation.

 

[PayDay]

In Germany prostitution is legal and so are brothels. It is closely regulated with the girls being regularly tested for social diseases.

I find this pair of sentences hilarious. No harm intended.

 

[sr71plt]

I predict a rise in Canadian tourism.

Take note, Bangkok. (Although Bangkok has special services I doubt Canada will be employing any time soon.)

 

[Handley_Page]

So, in these days, of governmental fiscal stress, a 'legal' prostitute, going about her (now) normal affairs, is liable to pay Tax on income, yes?.
I take it that there's no "Living off immoral Earnings" laws, then, because as I've been told, that's why prostitution isn't too legal in the UK; the government cannot take any income tax.

 

[Bramblethorn]

So, in these days, of governmental fiscal stress, a 'legal' prostitute, going about her (now) normal affairs, is liable to pay Tax on income, yes?.
I take it that there's no "Living off immoral Earnings" laws, then, because as I've been told, that's why prostitution isn't too legal in the UK; the government cannot take any income tax.

That's how it works in .au, certainly. On an interesting side note, last I saw rates of STIs were lower among legal sex workers here than in the rest of the population.

 

[Mrdarkblueeyes]

Oh, America, when will you ever get over the whole Puritanical thing ...

 

[DeYaKen]

So, in these days, of governmental fiscal stress, a 'legal' prostitute, going about her (now) normal affairs, is liable to pay Tax on income, yes?.
I take it that there's no "Living off immoral Earnings" laws, then, because as I've been told, that's why prostitution isn't too legal in the UK; the government cannot take any income tax.

The living off immoral earnings is a bit of an urban myth. A government does not have a life so it cannot be seen as living off immoral earnings. However, prostitution is illegal so a prostitute cannot declare their earnings without admitting that they are breaking the law.

Escorts are a different matter. They claim that the client pays only for their company.

As Bramblethorn mentioned. I believe that both Germany and The Netherlands have lower STI rates than countries like Britain, especially amongst sex workers

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

It wont work unless the government operates it, like the lottery.

 

[R. Richard]

Nevada has now and has had for a long time, legal brothels. The brothels are clean, safe (doctor's inspection required) work places, safe for the prostitutes and the customers. (See Anatomy of An Adult Movie for a peek.)
However, in even in Nevada, brothels are illegal in Clark County (Las Vegas) and Washoe County (Reno.)
Prostitution can work, but it has to operate legally, in the open.

 

[ishtat]

New Zealand probably has the most enlightened legislation. They generally view it as a health and safety issue without moral judgements. Most of their prostitutes work from brothels rather than on the streets and most of the brothels are owned/managed by women.

In OZ the situation is mixed and is largely controlled by planning laws. (Cannot solicit within proximity of schools churches etc). Sydney(NSW) and Melbourne (Victoria) Perth(WA) Brisbane (Queensland) prostitution is legal but has some fairly tight controls particularly in Queensland and even more in Adelaide(SA). Tasmania is the only state where prostitution is illegal and there it is controlled by criminals(bikiegangs).

The biggest problem in Sydney and Melbourne is Asian criminals bringing women in on tourist visas and forcing them to work as sex 'slaves' to pay off their tickets. Oddly the biggest discouragement to that is the number of local women who have competed so effectively that importing even unpaid labour is not necessarily remunerative.

And yes they pay tax - And if they are employed workers, their employers have to pay pension contributions - but most are self employed.

The ATO (same as IRS) are by far the most effective institution in dealing with the profession.

There is a prostitutes collective(union?) which has been so effective that most of the working women have an STD record superior to non-sex workers.

 

[Hypoxia]

Oh, America, when will you ever get over the whole Puritanical thing ...

Maybe by the year 2525. Maybe.