ANYBODY BUT HARPER, all other parties to repeal C36

[squeezer]

NDP, LIBERALS, GREENS COMMIT TO REPEALING ANTI-SEX-WORK LAW

Conservatives' Bill C-36 harshly criticized for not protecting sex workers

BY JONATHAN GOLDSBIE SEPTEMBER 27, 2015 5:40 PM

https://nowtoronto.com/news/election-2015/ndp-liberals-greens-commit-to-repealing-anti-sex-work-law/

At Thursday night's Proud to Vote debate, NDP, Liberal, and Green representatives pledged that their respective parties would repeal Bill C-36, the Conservatives' anti-sex-work law, if they form government. The issue, which had barely been mentioned in this election, is apparently a matter of importance for all three of them.

The LGBTQ issues forum, held in the cabaret space at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, invited each party to send a candidate of their choice, regardless of the riding in which they're running. And so there was Craig Scott, the NDP incumbent in Toronto-Danforth, facing off against the Greens' Chris Tolley from the same riding as well as Bill Morneau, the Liberal hopeful in Toronto Centre. The Conservatives opted not to send a delegate, which was both unsurprising and somewhat frustrating, given that as recently as last month the party was literally waving the LGBT banner. The CPC place on the stage was left empty, with moderator Brenda Cossman asking off the top that participants "not engage in a kind of Clint Eastwood debate with the chair."

The Conservatives appear to have nevertheless noticed the event, with Jason Kenney suddenly invoking C-36 as a wedge issue the next day. The new law, written in response to the Supreme Court's 2013 decision to strike down certain earlier statutes that endangered the lives of sex workers, flew in the face of the ruling by going even further to criminalize sex work and push those who practice it underground. NOW Magazine is part of a coalition opposing the law, which also criminalizes the placement of sex advertisements by third parties.

(My partner is the co-founder of one of the 10 groups that organized the debate.)

Here are candidates' complete responses to the question of what to do about C-36, minus those parts of their answers that were drowned out by applause. Below that are a handful of other highlights from the debate, touching on a range of issues that directly or indirectly affect LGBTQ people.

Xtra's Kevin O’Keefe: Recently, Bill C-36, which was ostensibly created to protect sex workers, passed through our last government. However, sex-worker advocacy groups have criticized the bill as unduly endangering the lives and livelihoods of sex workers. Will your party look at revising or repealing this bill?

Scott (NDP): We fought it very hard, just as we had C-51 and the “Unfair Elections Act,” and there’s no way — as Tom [Mulcair] said with respect to another subject two days ago — there’s not a snowball’s chance in hell that we would allow that legislation to stay on the books. It’s done. There’s a couple starting points, but one of them has to be, when the Supreme Court exercises moral leadership within a constitutional framework and sets out principles that everybody can use as a reference point for good-faith debate about what the best approach is and that it’s totally ignored, for purposes of nothing but playing to the base — throwing blue meat, if you like, out to the base — was one of the worst experiences of my three years since being elected. And it was my privilege to be part of the team, even though I’m on another committee, to be called in on occasion to lead some of the questioning on the bill that completely, completely does not understand the idea of sex workers’ rights. So absolutely you’ll see an NDP government making sure that we figure out what to do with the Supreme Court judgment that does not involve keeping this legislation.

Morneau (Liberal): Well, on this there’s no disagreement. We would want to get rid of this bill just as the NDP would, and think that — now, I know there’s no Conservative here — but think that this is a continuing approach that the Conservatives seem to be doing, which is dismissing our courts and dismissing the judgments of our Supreme Court on issues that really matter to Canadians. So this is completely unacceptable. It’s a bill that puts people in danger, and we would not stand for it.

Tolley (Green): Repeal it. We would repeal it. We feel that the most important thing is the legislation has to be there to protect the sex workers; it’s not about protecting the public. We need to talk and formulate legislation with sex workers. Right now, we prefer the model that’s based on the New Zealand model — a very, very strong model. We would prefer something along those lines, where basically what you’re doing is you’re protecting the sex workers, not criminalizing it. At the same time, we need to also have structures in place so that if somebody does want to leave the business, they have the support and the ability to live any life that they want. At the end of the day, everybody has free choice, and we just need to make sure that everybody is protected and safe.

Moderator Cossman (a U of T law professor and director of the school's Mark S. Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies): So on this question, I actually risk turning into Clint Eastwood and just saying “Shame on that chair. Shame.”

BEST PANDERING WITH HEART AND SINCERITY
Tolley, in response to a question about support for queer theatre, arts and festivals: When I went to school, I started off doing a major in theatre and a minor in political science. And during that time, I looked at history, and I saw that throughout history, it wasn't the businessmen, it wasn't the bankers that overthrew governments, that started revolutions, it was the artists. So I think the most important thing is that we start to get the artists up here on this stage and involved. That is critical.

BEST REGRET
Scott, in response to a question about a guaranteed annual income: It's not in our platform, at the moment. So a guaranteed minimum income, as a specific policy, is not. It is something that has been bouncing around in very serious ways in policy discussions for decades in the NDP, and it's something that I honestly hope, that I personally hope, and I think everybody in my caucus would like to see a very good discussion. And I salute the Greens for putting it on the table.

BEST CALLING OF BULLSHIT
Morneau, on supporting refugees: I know the Conservative's not here, but it's worth taking a moment on this issue to call out Stephen Harper. In the debate that he was in a week ago, he claimed that they did not cut back refugee healthcare, which is just a flat-out untruth. I was chairman of the board at St. Michael's Hospital when that happened, and I can tell you that there were refugee claimants who actually were out of healthcare when that happened. And I was so proud of the doctors at St. Mike's, because they decided to cover those people for healthcare, anyway, out of their own incomes. And I can just tell you, that's the sort of thing that Canadians do when our government makes really, really awful decisions that are jeopardizing people.

BEST PLEA FOR A NECESSARY PROGRAM
Tolley: We've been nurturing a pharmacare program for a very long time — very, very well costed out, it's very robust, a lot of work's gone into it, a very strong timetable. It's been very, very important to us. And it was something that was resonating with the public. Then last week the NDP suddenly mentioned they have a pharmacare program. And at the end of the day, I don't care if it's the Green Party that brings it in or if it's the NDP or the Liberals — who cares. We just need it. My concern is, the NDP's program right now is very thin, there's no timeline, and all I can say to you is: if, in the rare, odd chance that the Green Party doesn't form a majority government, all I say is, please, I hope, and promise me this is not just to get votes. This is too important.

BEST MAKING US WONDER WHAT ELSE HE THINKS IT COULD POSSIBLY MEAN
Morneau: Am I a feminist? Well, you know, it's a good question, and I guess I have to think about how you define that. I mean, am I a strong supporter of women's rights? Absolutely. Am I a feminist? That makes me a feminist, I guess.

BEST DEMAND FOR STRUCTURAL TRANSFORMATION
Scott: We have to move to a proportional representation system.… We have to give our political system, for all of its problems, the chance to reflect the decency and the core values of Canadians, rather than a system that can be gamed so that one party can actually get in and get 100 per cent of the power (because of the structure of our Westminster parliament) with less than 40 per cent of the vote, and completely misrepresent the value orientation of the entire country as a result. And the only way we're gonna move forward on everything we've been talking about tonight — and on something as serious as the issue of our times, climate change — we need to be able to constantly elect parliaments where we have a fighting chance for consensual, collegial, and spirited debate across political parties, where not one party can dominate in a way our current system allows.… Under our current system, we will constantly be in danger of future Stephen Harpers.

as said before many times over and over C36 is completely a Reform Party Ideological bill.

 

[nottyboi]

Well a lot of guys here like being called Perverts and criminals, I think it makes it more exciting for them ..lol...

 

[JohnLarue]

as said before many times over and over C36 is completely a Reform Party Ideological bill.

As the village idiot you should probably be excused for misleading people
None of the other parties will repeal this bill
They may say they will but when push comes to shove this will be put on the backburner once the election is over

 

[crampy]

None of the other parties will repeal this bill

And how do YOU know this with 100% certainty?

At least with these public statements pro-sex work agencies can call them out if they don't follow through.

 

[Butler1000]

Bit of waffling going on there. They state that they don't like this particular bill, not that they wouldn't have brought in legislation. In fact the Libs and NDP Seem to be talking around the issue of de-criminalization with very wordy answers and qualifiers.

Besides these are three random MP's. Not party leaders. Until they come out with official policy this is nothing more than a pandering exercise to a particular audience

 

[AdamH]

Bit of waffling going on there. They state that they don't like this particular bill, not that they wouldn't have brought in legislation. In fact the Libs and NDP Seem to be talking around the issue of de-criminalization with very wordy answers and qualifiers.

Besides these are three random MP's. Not party leaders. Until they come out with official policy this is nothing more than a pandering exercise to a particular audience

I'm confident the NDP would repeal the bill and introduce new legislation that was actually effective (going after the exploitation of sex workers and under age sex workers). They were strongly against Bill C36 since its beginning and the NDP are generally on the side of labour.

Incidentally, Craig Scott (the NDP candidate they spoke to) isn't just any old "random MP". He's the candidate who took over Jack Layton's riding after Jack's death. He's been part of the Shadow Cabinet ever since he won the seat back in 2012.

 

[jcpro]

I'm confident the NDP would repeal the bill and introduce new legislation that was actually effective (going after the exploitation of sex workers and under age sex workers). They were strongly against Bill C36 since its beginning and the NDP are generally on the side of labour.

Incidentally, Craig Scott (the NDP candidate they spoke to) isn't just any old "random MP". He's the candidate who took over Jack Layton's riding after Jack's death. He's been part of the Shadow Cabinet ever since he won the seat back in 2012.

Unless the leaders of those parties make the repeal part of their platform, it's all wind and piss. Neither the Libs nor the NDP give a crap about the working men and women. Their platforms are pretty clear on that point and are designed to drain more resources from us for useless programs.

 

[JohnLarue]

And how do YOU know this with 100% certainty?
At least with these public statements pro-sex work agencies can call them out if they don't follow through.

Posts # 5 & #7

Besides these are three random MP's. Not party leaders. Until they come out with official policy this is nothing more than a pandering exercise to a particular audience

Unless the leaders of those parties make the repeal part of their platform, it's all wind and piss.

 

[nottyboi]

As the village idiot you should probably be excused for misleading people
None of the other parties will repeal this bill
They may say they will but when push comes to shove this will be put on the backburner once the election is over

Well you are right on that one. But what they WILL NOT DO is exert pressure on the various provincial govts to enforce the bill like your psychopathic puritan idols will. Once presented with a charter challenge they will act without fighting the challenge in court, in sharp contrast Harpo the Jesus lovin clown.

 

[JohnLarue]

Well you are right on that one. But what they WILL NOT DO is exert pressure on the various provincial govts to enforce the bill like your psychopathic puritan idols will. Once presented with a charter challenge they will act without fighting the challenge in court, in sharp contrast Harpo the Jesus lovin clown.

This is where you leave reality
This law was designed to give more power to stop human trafficking, pimps & the abuse of underage kids in the sex trade.
Local law enforcement will use as such & will turn a blind eye to acts between consenting adults. They just do not have the resources for full enforcement

 

[nottyboi]

This is where you leave reality
This law was designed to give more power to stop human trafficking, pimps & the abuse of underage kids in the sex trade.
Local law enforcement will use as such & will turn a blind eye to acts between consenting adults. They just do not have the resources for full enforcement

Yeah right, whatever...and they will spend more time on violent crime instead of shaking down consenting adults.. whatever. Canada was already short on resources and that did not stop Harpo the clown from passing many tough on crime bills costing billions of dollars in additional incarceration, even though the evidence from the US clearly indicates this is a failed strategy. How many millions has your douchbag idol spent fighting clearly losing battles in court? Why do you think he will suddenly break this pattern of douchebaggery ?

 

[squeezer]

This is where you leave reality
This law was designed to give more power to stop human trafficking, pimps & the abuse of underage kids in the sex trade.
Local law enforcement will use as such & will turn a blind eye to acts between consenting adults. They just do not have the resources for full enforcement

7

It's amazes me how the resident Terb clown is so predictable. You continue to defend your beloved Reform Party at all costs regardless of how ignorant you seem to come off when referring to BillC36. Stick to topics concerning the oil industry because anything else, you're lost.

READ THIS AGAIN https://nowtoronto.com/news/election-2015/ndp-liberals-greens-commit-to-repealing-anti-sex-work-law/

If it's not slapping you in the back of the neck that the other parties are against bill C36 you really need to get your head out of your fat ass.

Bit of waffling going on there. They state that they don't like this particular bill, not that they wouldn't have brought in legislation. In fact the Libs and NDP Seem to be talking around the issue of de-criminalization with very wordy answers and qualifiers.

Besides these are three random MP's. Not party leaders. Until they come out with official policy this is nothing more than a pandering exercise to a particular audience

Butler, come on.....you know Jack Layton was a big industry supporter right? LOL Do you really believe the leadership of any party would allow their MP's to go out preaching eliminating C36 if they were not behind it?? Do you think Harper allows MP's to go willy nilly around the country spouting off about policies he does not agree with?

But , you have so much more class than Johnny but you really need to take the conservative blinders off. If you state you will vote conservative solely on your perceived notion of a
a better economical platform that's fine but c'mon you have to give up on this idea the other parties wouldn't do better for escorts and their clients, you really do.

 

[Butler1000]

Squeezer I think that either the party leaders of the NDP and Libs don't have as much control as you think over the caucuses or they are willing to give them leeway to say anything to certain partisan audiences like the one that would obviously be at a Buddies for Bad Times/Now Magazine/Xtra Magazine organized event.

And like I said if you read beyond the first sentences of their responses both the NDP and Liberals added a lot of qualifiers about there being legislation just not exactly C-36.

Can you imagine the Naomi Klein and her ilk reaction to taking the criminalization out of the picture for the men. They would be screaming from the rafters.

The only way this law dies is via the courts. No party will ultimately touch it. It's a no win. They will have other things on their agendas to pass without expending political capital on this.

I'm not blind. Just very realistic.

 

[JohnLarue]

Yeah right, whatever...?

Now that is a stinging response. Not

 

[nottyboi]

Now that is a stinging response. Not

That was not, but the rest was a pretty thorough rebuttal of your pathetic response..for which it is clear you have no reply.

 

[Avatar]

[My understanding of the law is]... it was designed to give more power to stop human trafficking, pimps & the abuse of underage kids in the sex trade.
Local law enforcement will use as such & will turn a blind eye to acts between consenting adults.

Brilliant. Vote for Harper and when you're busted under c36 you can use the above as your defence in court.

 

[Aardvark154]

NDP, LIBERALS, GREENS COMMIT TO REPEALING ANTI-SEX-WORK LAW

Conservatives' Bill C-36 harshly criticized for not protecting sex workers

BY JONATHAN GOLDSBIE SEPTEMBER 27, 2015 5:40 PM

https://nowtoronto.com/news/election-2015/ndp-liberals-greens-commit-to-repealing-anti-sex-work-law/

At Thursday night's Proud to Vote debate, NDP, Liberal, and Green representatives pledged that their respective parties would repeal Bill C-36, the Conservatives' anti-sex-work law, if they form government. The issue, which had barely been mentioned in this election, is apparently a matter of importance for all three of them.

The LGBTQ issues forum, held in the cabaret space at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, invited each party to send a candidate of their choice, regardless of the riding in which they're running. And so there was Craig Scott, the NDP incumbent in Toronto-Danforth, facing off against the Greens' Chris Tolley from the same riding as well as Bill Morneau, the Liberal hopeful in Toronto Centre.

So in an informal "debate" in a cabaret, three candidates running in two different Toronto Ridings and with no mandate from any of their Party Leaders made this statement.

Wow I'm sure if they win this will be introduced as Bill C-2 right? (Deeply Sarcastic Smilie)

 

[FAST]

I recall last year NDP proposed an amendment to bill c-36 making purchasing sex illegal only in the context of human trafficking but this amendment was defeated by conservatives.

An example of how the NDP look at the sex trade.

The amendment, which the Conservatives themselves drafted, will now criminalize prostitutes if they communicate for the purpose of selling sex next to a school, playground or daycare centre.

It passed over the objections of opposition Liberal and NDP members, who are in the minority on the committee. NDP justice critic Francoise Boivin was among opposition MPs who objected,...

FAST

 

[AdamH]

Unless the leaders of those parties make the repeal part of their platform, it's all wind and piss..

I agree there's no proof (beyond their voting history against C36 and their very clear stance on the subject in the House).. But one can hardly blame our political parties (or the media) for not making sex worker rights an election issue.. Just because they're not talking about it (and haven't released it as part of their platform) doesn't mean they won't act on it..

I'll concede that there's not enough proof (that the Dippers will squash C36) for a Conservative terbite to switch his vote.. But I do think an NDP government would be most likely to do it.. And I really want to see a Canadian brothel while my dick still works..

 

[IM469]

And how do YOU know this with 100% certainty?

100% certainty is that the author of this repressive life style legislation will do nothing. It is also a certainty that Harper will continue along the same tack even if the law is successfully challenged.

Let's not loose focus who ignored the focus groups to drive this legislation through. You can debate who is best to fix a problem but it is stupid to ignore the source of the problem in the first place.