Most recent articles on prostitution related laws, opinions, comments
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I echo MPAsquared's sentiment. Thanks for posting this.
Someone should educate Senator Batters (or put her in an old age home) that once a law infringes on the harmless individual rights of the minority, it is unconstitutional (i.e., inequality for gays).
Senator Frum should be reminded that woman already have the right to choose what to do with their bodies, and that there are many examples of people selling their minds and bodies in various ways including exotic dancing which is not prostitution even under the new bill.
It's about time we have an elected Senate manned by people with more than half a brain.
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Johns are the intended target knowing full well it is hard for us to mount an opposition. Even the Senators and Reformers who have used escorts have to sit on their hands and pretend they are in support of Bill C36. I just hope they are the first ones seriously affected by this legislation.
Senator Denise Batters
http://www.parl.gc.ca/SenatorsBio/senator_biography.aspx?senator_id=3571&language=E
Denise Batters is an experienced lawyer and mental health advocate. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Regina and a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Saskatchewan.
Ms. Batters was admitted to the Saskatchewan Bar in 1995, and was in private practice in Saskatchewan until 2007. She was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2008. From November 2007 until June 2012, she was the Chief of Staff to Saskatchewan’s Minister of Justice. In June 2012, Ms. Batters became the Executive Director of Regulatory Affairs for the Crown Investments Corporation of Saskatchewan.
Her credentials are impressive, her ignorance and stupidity even more so.
Study after study has demonstrated that the large majority of sex workers work voluntarily and without coercion (as generally understood, radical feminists excepted). Yet she claims the exact opposite as though it were fact. There is something about her rigid morality and associated worldview that allows her to believe what she says despite all the evidence to the contrary. This makes her delusional. What is puzzling and very disappointing is that no one will call her on her delusions.
http://www.parl.gc.ca/SenatorsBio/senator_biography.aspx?senator_id=3571&language=E
Denise Batters is an experienced lawyer and mental health advocate. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Regina and a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Saskatchewan.
Ms. Batters was admitted to the Saskatchewan Bar in 1995, and was in private practice in Saskatchewan until 2007. She was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2008. From November 2007 until June 2012, she was the Chief of Staff to Saskatchewan’s Minister of Justice. In June 2012, Ms. Batters became the Executive Director of Regulatory Affairs for the Crown Investments Corporation of Saskatchewan.
Her credentials are impressive, her ignorance and stupidity even more so.
Study after study has demonstrated that the large majority of sex workers work voluntarily and without coercion (as generally understood, radical feminists excepted). Yet she claims the exact opposite as though it were fact. There is something about her rigid morality and associated worldview that allows her to believe what she says despite all the evidence to the contrary. This makes her delusional. What is puzzling and very disappointing is that no one will call her on her delusions.
I was browsing #c36 on tweeter & came across this link from a Vancouver handle @SWAN_Vancouver that links a plain-english summary of C-36. Its excellent! Its a 19-page pdf, so I can only post the link here.
http://www.aidslaw.ca/publications/interfaces/downloadFile.php?ref=2305
This is a must-read!
http://www.aidslaw.ca/publications/interfaces/downloadFile.php?ref=2305
This is a must-read!
http://www.cba.org/CBA/news/2014_releases/10-29-c36.aspx
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 29, 2014
CBA warns of possible constitutional shortcomings in Bill C-36
OTTAWA – The Canadian Bar Association (CBA) cautions that Bill C-36, Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act, introduced by the federal government in response to the Supreme Court of Canada decision in Canada (Attorney General) v. Bedford, may fall short on constitutional grounds.
“Bill C-36 introduces a number of measures which on their face appear to comply with the central aspects of the Bedford decision,” says Ian Carter, Executive member of the CBA’s National Criminal Justice Section. “However, the practical application of some of these provisions undermines the spirit of the Bedford decision.”
The CBA submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs focuses on the constitutionality of new provisions, introduced to replace portions that the Supreme Court had declared unconstitutional in the Bedford decision. The particular sections scrutinized by the CBA include keeping a common bawdy-house, communication for the purpose of engaging in prostitution, and living off the avails of prostitution.
The federal legislation was introduced in June to comply with the one-year time limit called for by the Supreme Court.
In its submission, the CBA notes that a key consideration for the Supreme Court of Canada was whether the legislation makes working conditions for prostitutes more dangerous, and so violates section 7 of the Charter. Prostitutes are still engaged in a legal activity – selling sex for money – and section 7 guarantees life and liberty of the individual for all.
The CBA also says that limits on communication may contravene freedom of expression guarantees in the Charter. “We believe the Bill potentially imperils prostitutes going forward by restricting their ability to protect themselves in their inherently risky, but legal activities,” notes Ian Carter.
Ian Carter will present the CBA submission (.pdf) to the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs on Thursday, October 30, 2014 at 10:30 am in Room 257, East Block.
The Canadian Bar Association is dedicated to supporting the rule of law, improvements in the law, and the administration of justice. Some 37,000 lawyers, law teachers, and law students from across Canada are members."
The CBA testifies tomorrow morning!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 29, 2014
CBA warns of possible constitutional shortcomings in Bill C-36
OTTAWA – The Canadian Bar Association (CBA) cautions that Bill C-36, Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act, introduced by the federal government in response to the Supreme Court of Canada decision in Canada (Attorney General) v. Bedford, may fall short on constitutional grounds.
“Bill C-36 introduces a number of measures which on their face appear to comply with the central aspects of the Bedford decision,” says Ian Carter, Executive member of the CBA’s National Criminal Justice Section. “However, the practical application of some of these provisions undermines the spirit of the Bedford decision.”
The CBA submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs focuses on the constitutionality of new provisions, introduced to replace portions that the Supreme Court had declared unconstitutional in the Bedford decision. The particular sections scrutinized by the CBA include keeping a common bawdy-house, communication for the purpose of engaging in prostitution, and living off the avails of prostitution.
The federal legislation was introduced in June to comply with the one-year time limit called for by the Supreme Court.
In its submission, the CBA notes that a key consideration for the Supreme Court of Canada was whether the legislation makes working conditions for prostitutes more dangerous, and so violates section 7 of the Charter. Prostitutes are still engaged in a legal activity – selling sex for money – and section 7 guarantees life and liberty of the individual for all.
The CBA also says that limits on communication may contravene freedom of expression guarantees in the Charter. “We believe the Bill potentially imperils prostitutes going forward by restricting their ability to protect themselves in their inherently risky, but legal activities,” notes Ian Carter.
Ian Carter will present the CBA submission (.pdf) to the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs on Thursday, October 30, 2014 at 10:30 am in Room 257, East Block.
The Canadian Bar Association is dedicated to supporting the rule of law, improvements in the law, and the administration of justice. Some 37,000 lawyers, law teachers, and law students from across Canada are members."
The CBA testifies tomorrow morning!
I understand but it still doesn't answer my question.
(Yes, I hope they catch a bunch of MPs, especially conservative ones).
Bingo! (Thanks Emily)
Life, liberty and security of person
7. Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of the person and the right not to be deprived thereof except in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice.
mistressmatisse @mistressmatisse 27m27 minutes ago
Am I really reading that Canadian Senate discussions of #c36 include wanting to force sex workers into faith-based rehab camps? WTF?
Holly In Griffith @HollyInAlbury 1h1 hour ago
They want to send sex workers to a CAMP! Wtf ??? We need to be sent away and brainwashed??
#c36
Emily Muse @Miss_Emily_Muse 35m35 minutes ago
Just watched the Senate. Most fucked up hearing to-date! Forced rehab camps for SWers!? Fucking crazy. Wtf Canada!?!? #c36
Am I really reading that Canadian Senate discussions of #c36 include wanting to force sex workers into faith-based rehab camps? WTF?
Holly In Griffith @HollyInAlbury 1h1 hour ago
They want to send sex workers to a CAMP! Wtf ??? We need to be sent away and brainwashed??
#c36
Emily Muse @Miss_Emily_Muse 35m35 minutes ago
Just watched the Senate. Most fucked up hearing to-date! Forced rehab camps for SWers!? Fucking crazy. Wtf Canada!?!? #c36
Concerns mount over banned sex ads
Indoor sex worker advocates say the federal government’s new prostitution laws will cause more harm than good.
They are especially concerned about Bill C-36’s prohibition on the advertisement of sexual services, which indoor sex work relies on due to its discrete nature.
The Supreme Court of Canada found that sex work is safest when practiced from a fixed indoor location. If these venues are shut down women will be forced to work on the street or in their homes.
“When you take away a person’s ability to advertise it leads to more violence because there is less communication,” said Alison Clancey, the executive director of SWAN (Supporting Women’s Alternatives Network).
SWAN has been providing outreach to largely Asian newcomer, migrant, and immigrant indoor sex workers in Vancouver for the past ten years.
Cutting off second line of defence
Outreach organizations like SWAN also use these advertisement spaces to connect with and give information and support to sex workers, providing a second line of defence.
If these avenues of access are shut down, “it will prevent us from reaching out, connecting, and supporting,” Clancey said.
As a preemptive response the organization has increased spending on advertising to raise their profile while these spaces are still open.
Legal confusion
There are also legal concerns about the new legislation, particularly uncertainty about how they will be interpreted.
Lisa Kerr, a doctoral candidate in law at New York University, noted the ambiguity of the law, particularly in defining who can and cannot advertise.
The confusing nature of the legislation poses a challenge to publications that print advertisements for sexual services. Many publishers are unclear about which advertisements are considered legal and how the laws will be enforced.
“It’s a very dangerous precedent requiring newspapers to enforce the law,” stated John Hinds, the CEO of the Canadian Community Newspapers Association.
What’s more, he added, “the court is clear that prostitution is not illegal in this country and most legal services are able to advertise.”
It remains unclear how these laws will be interpreted or enforced as they leave a great deal of power to prosecutors. The law has passed its third reading and is anticipated to pass through the Senate within a month.
Lisa Kerr expects that if passed, the law will be immediately challenged by the highly organized sex work law reform community.
“They’re not going to wait one more minute where women’s lives are in danger,” she said.
http://thethunderbird.ca/2014/10/29/concerns-mount-over-banned-sex-ads/
Indoor sex worker advocates say the federal government’s new prostitution laws will cause more harm than good.
They are especially concerned about Bill C-36’s prohibition on the advertisement of sexual services, which indoor sex work relies on due to its discrete nature.
The Supreme Court of Canada found that sex work is safest when practiced from a fixed indoor location. If these venues are shut down women will be forced to work on the street or in their homes.
“When you take away a person’s ability to advertise it leads to more violence because there is less communication,” said Alison Clancey, the executive director of SWAN (Supporting Women’s Alternatives Network).
SWAN has been providing outreach to largely Asian newcomer, migrant, and immigrant indoor sex workers in Vancouver for the past ten years.
Cutting off second line of defence
Outreach organizations like SWAN also use these advertisement spaces to connect with and give information and support to sex workers, providing a second line of defence.
If these avenues of access are shut down, “it will prevent us from reaching out, connecting, and supporting,” Clancey said.
As a preemptive response the organization has increased spending on advertising to raise their profile while these spaces are still open.
Legal confusion
There are also legal concerns about the new legislation, particularly uncertainty about how they will be interpreted.
Lisa Kerr, a doctoral candidate in law at New York University, noted the ambiguity of the law, particularly in defining who can and cannot advertise.
The confusing nature of the legislation poses a challenge to publications that print advertisements for sexual services. Many publishers are unclear about which advertisements are considered legal and how the laws will be enforced.
“It’s a very dangerous precedent requiring newspapers to enforce the law,” stated John Hinds, the CEO of the Canadian Community Newspapers Association.
What’s more, he added, “the court is clear that prostitution is not illegal in this country and most legal services are able to advertise.”
It remains unclear how these laws will be interpreted or enforced as they leave a great deal of power to prosecutors. The law has passed its third reading and is anticipated to pass through the Senate within a month.
Lisa Kerr expects that if passed, the law will be immediately challenged by the highly organized sex work law reform community.
“They’re not going to wait one more minute where women’s lives are in danger,” she said.
http://thethunderbird.ca/2014/10/29/concerns-mount-over-banned-sex-ads/
Thanks so much!
(I'm not a Twitter person)
I'll be watching for the meeting minutes to be posted online.
John School for the guys, rehab camp for the ladies ... what's next???
I'm horrified!
i don't see the provinces enforcing this bill. apart from going after coerced and trafficking like they do under the old laws.
