Canada Considers Legalizing Prostitution
April 24, 1985|United Press International
OTTAWA — Canada is considering legalizing prostitution and allowing hookers to operate out of their own homes as part of legislation aimed at curbing street soliciting, the government said Tuesday.
Justice Minister John Crosbie, whose department will prepare new laws to be introduced this fall dealing with both pornography and prostitution, said he will consider legalizing prostitution if it was acceptable to the majority of Canadians.
``We all know this is a problem that`s been in society since it first began thousands of years ago,`` Crosbie said. ``We should deal with the problem in a sensible manner.``
Crosbie was responding to a 750-page report by a government committee on pornography and prostitution that included a recommendation to remove prostitution-related activities from the Criminal Code.
The committee also recommended legal prostitution establishments, operated by one or two prostitutes, aged 18 or older, operated by municipal authorities.
Crosbie said surveys carried out by his department showed that most Canadians would accept legalized prostitution.
Prostitution is not a crime in Canada, but the Criminal Code prohibits a number of related activities, including soliciting, procuring, living off its proceeds and keeping a house of prostitution.
The government`s proposed legislation dealing with street soliciting will make it clear that any kind of soliciting, even if it is not pressing or persistent, is illegal.
Metropolitan cities in Canada have complained for months that street soliciting was contributing to the decay of downtown areas.
Crosbie also said he would not rule out so-called ``red-light districts`` where prostitutes could legally ply their trade.
The committee, which studied prostitution in several countries, found that the U.S. has ``the most draconian provisions`` against such activity but no effective control of the problem.
The best short-term solutions, according to the report, were found in Denmark, where prostitution is operated as a regulated business.
http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1985-04-24/news/8501160507_1_prostitution-crosbie-criminal-code
April 24, 1985|United Press International
OTTAWA — Canada is considering legalizing prostitution and allowing hookers to operate out of their own homes as part of legislation aimed at curbing street soliciting, the government said Tuesday.
Justice Minister John Crosbie, whose department will prepare new laws to be introduced this fall dealing with both pornography and prostitution, said he will consider legalizing prostitution if it was acceptable to the majority of Canadians.
``We all know this is a problem that`s been in society since it first began thousands of years ago,`` Crosbie said. ``We should deal with the problem in a sensible manner.``
Crosbie was responding to a 750-page report by a government committee on pornography and prostitution that included a recommendation to remove prostitution-related activities from the Criminal Code.
The committee also recommended legal prostitution establishments, operated by one or two prostitutes, aged 18 or older, operated by municipal authorities.
Crosbie said surveys carried out by his department showed that most Canadians would accept legalized prostitution.
Prostitution is not a crime in Canada, but the Criminal Code prohibits a number of related activities, including soliciting, procuring, living off its proceeds and keeping a house of prostitution.
The government`s proposed legislation dealing with street soliciting will make it clear that any kind of soliciting, even if it is not pressing or persistent, is illegal.
Metropolitan cities in Canada have complained for months that street soliciting was contributing to the decay of downtown areas.
Crosbie also said he would not rule out so-called ``red-light districts`` where prostitutes could legally ply their trade.
The committee, which studied prostitution in several countries, found that the U.S. has ``the most draconian provisions`` against such activity but no effective control of the problem.
The best short-term solutions, according to the report, were found in Denmark, where prostitution is operated as a regulated business.
http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1985-04-24/news/8501160507_1_prostitution-crosbie-criminal-code
