Sex in the News

[Trelew]

It was interesting reading the news on a slow news day...

An Ottawa MP has tabled a bill to either rewrite or remove prostitution laws in Canada, in particular, ones regarding bawdy house. This would tackle the problems of street prostitution, eliminate pimps, and improve health standards (?) for those involved in the trade. Under this plan, municipalities would have the ability to approve brothel licences and locations and creae red light districts. (Toronto Sun & Toronto Star)

Apparently this has a lot of push behind this, guess the MPs need thier hobbying too, but I really don't think Hamilton, giving thier current attitude about the sex industry would allow a brothel into the city much less licence one.


India bans nude worship. Apparently every year tens of thousands of women gather at a Hindu temple in India to worship in the nude. For years the Indian gov't has been trying to get them to stop (?!!) from disrobing bathe in the river and roll around in the temple of an Hindu Goddess. Many of the devotees are performing an intitiation rite to enter prostitution, while others are fulfilling vows made to thier Goddess. (Toronto Sun)

Hmmm...nice religion...wish they had a temple here.

 

[taperman]

Yah..... comming soon to Canada leagle pot and brothels... damn this is the best country in the world!

 

[Pistol Pete]

Well, Holland has a jump start on us but, hopefully, we'll catch up soon.

 

[drlove]

Well, Holland has a jump start on us but, hopefully, we'll catch up soon.

Let's hope so... It's about time!

 

[Mrs_Stiffler]

I still wouldn't get too excited about it. The push to decriminalize pot has been going on for almost 25 years. That was when the first bill was introduced. Canadians are slow to accept changes in what some see as morality.

I (obviously) would love to see the laws changed. It is hipocritical thinking that makes it legal for me to have sex with you in a hotel room but not in my own room. But I don't have much faith in our system moving too quickly on this.

 

[train]

Unfortunately it is not worth another 4 or 5 yrs of Liberal rule to get these worthwhile initiatives passed . And NO that doesn't mean I favour NDP......shudder .

 

[Hornet]

I've no real stance on the pot thing as I've never been into it but the brothels makes sense.

The old story is that you'll never get rid of it and you won't. They did the right thing to get most of it off the streets and into the escort scene. If they legalize it and regulate it it could be a good thing. Now, you're probably saying "regulate it, are you crazy!" thinking the government wil screw it up, but I'm thinking from the health perspective. If you licensed service providers you could make it conditional that they adhere to regular health checks (once every 1-3 months depending on what is feasible). If they fail the checkup then they can no longer work and if they are caught working without a license they could face imprisonment. I think it could protect a lot of people.

 

[Dianna Douglas]

Hornet,
I agree about enforced health check ups - it's crucial to have this done as frequently as possible, say every month or two.

The downside of regulation would be that SP's would have to register their full names and other info when they apply for a permit - I believe that strippers/MPA's have to do this to get an adult entertainment licence now?!

Like most SP's, I guard my privacy closely and am terrified that my family/friends might find out. There is no way that I'd want to go on record at a public gov't office as a "brothel employee" or whatever. Oh, and I'd prefer not to pay taxes (Ducking and running!!)

 

[Hornet]

Randall,

Yes, the registration thing would be a difficult thing at first given that even if it was legalized it would still take society a while to accept. It would have to be done in strictest privacy until such a time as society becomes more accepting. Wouldn't be quick or easy but nothing is and all the costs and benefits need to be weighed prior to going down this path. Also, any prior infractions/convictions should be expunged.

That tax thing sucks for everyone however but by contributing you will receive for Canada Pension upon retirement (even if it is small). If done correctly you could get Personal Financial advice made available to the SP's, dancer's and MPA's [I think the MPA's and dancers would also fall under the umbrella of such an organization but with different degrees/classes of licenses]. I don't think alot of the ladies in this industry know how to handle their money and think there will be a constant supply of cash. I could be wrong but that is the impression I get.

The enforced health check up benefits speak for themselves.

 

[HaywoodJabloemy]

It's a private member's bill that will be ignored. The Ottawa MP (that's Member of Parliament) is Mac Harb, who has tried this before.
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2003/03/09/39860.html

About a month ago a motion passed to have a justice committee consider changes to Canada's anti-prostitution laws.
http://missingpeople.net/justice_committee_fears_for_safe.htm

I'd be interesting in knowing how a semi-responsible semi-socialist society is supposed to handle the fringe issues related to the industry.

Wouldn't Australia be an example? Most states there changed their laws, which were like Canada's, to allow legal brothels after they realized how their system enabled police and civic corruption, something Canadians are very naive about. Cities here already license agencies and MP's, when they know they could be charging all of them with living off the avails or keeping a common bawdy house. Most existing MP's in Australia just changed their furniture and started calling themselves brothels.

I think you would need all three levels of government to approve before we would get them. I think Ontario has a Disorderly Houses Act that prevents them. And can you imagine a town like Aurora, which in effect prohibits strip clubs by making their zoning requirements impossible to meet, allowing legal brothels?

 

[Romeo]

They wouldn't be called Brothels.
They would be called "Love Shacks".
That would remove the stigma.

 

[gramage]

It was interesting reading the news on a slow news day...

An Ottawa MP has tabled a bill to either rewrite or remove prostitution laws in Canada, in particular, ones regarding bawdy house. This would tackle the problems of street prostitution, eliminate pimps, and improve health standards (?) for those involved in the trade. Under this plan, municipalities would have the ability to approve brothel licences and locations and creae red light districts. (Toronto Sun & Toronto Star)

do you havea link to the article? I'd like to read it.