Stay extended on Prostitution Laws till April 29

[gateman]

http://www.thestar.com/news/article/900348--stay-extended-prostitution-laws-remain-in-effect?bn=1

Just got the news. Sad, frustrating, and contemptible.

 

[Allison M]

I predicted this and it is not the end of the world. It would be HIGHLY UNUSUAL for a court to strike out major legal provisions which are under appeal without first having the full, final hearing and receiving full and extensive final argument. It was 99.99999999999999999% guaranteed that the laws would remain on the books until the Ont CA delivered its final decision in April.

This is not situation specific to this case, but is a general rule of appellate court jurisprudence.

 

[sledge250672]

I know, and as a Canadian, I should know we are only quietly brash and controversial, never doing anything without severe deliberation, but I had high hopes for this one.

In the meantime, sex workers cannot hire bodyguards, feed their kids, or pay for a sick parent's medical procedure legally.

 

[Wake n Bake Grl]

Even though the Stay has been extended and prostitution laws remain in effect until April 29, 2011, I believe that these laws will be changed in the future.

 

[mrswinabeouf]

http://news.ca.msn.com/canada/cp-article.aspx?cp-documentid=26592917

(...)Dominatrix Terri-Jean Bedford, one of the three sex-trade workers at the heart of this case, said outside court Thursday that she is confident they will win in the end.

But she suggested Prime Minister Stephen Harper is hiding behind the courts on the contentious issue, and challenged him to "fight like a man."

"He can withdraw this appeal at any moment and change the law through Parliament," she said outside the court Thursday.

"His silence means that he does not know what to do and is not concerned about the violence against women."

Harper was asked about Bedford's comments after he made an unrelated announcement and seemed tickled.

"I've never been called upon to respond to a dominatrix before," he said with a smirk.

Harper said the government supports the laws and his government looks forward to fighting on appeal to keep those laws on the books.

"We believe that the prostitution trade is bad for society," he said.

"That's a strong view held by our government, I think by most Canadians."

Even with the full weight of the federal government on the opposing side, Bedford said she will continue to fight for the safety of other women. Unspecified disabilities have left her unable to "tie people up and spank them" as much as she'd like to these days.

"The only people who benefit from this law right now are tax evaders and organized crime," she said.

"The women need to be able to call the police when they're beat up by the pimps and the johns. As it stands right now they can't. They can't press charges because they're carted to jail along with (the assailants)."

Ontario Superior Court Judge Susan Himel struck down laws against keeping a common bawdy house, communicating for the purposes of prostitution and living on the avails of the trade.

That ruling was subject to a temporary stay, and the federal and Ontario governments argued the stay should be extended, lest prostitutes from all over flood to Ontario amid an unprecedented "social experiment."

On Thursday the Court of Appeal for Ontario granted another temporary stay, meaning the laws will remain on the books until at least April 29. It puts pressure on the government to expedite the appeal.

Justice Minister Rob Nicholson said the government was pleased with the stay, saying there are "considerable" harms that flow from unfettered prostitution.

"These laws are necessary to protect not only the individuals...but the communities as well."

"If the activity is carried on on the street and police are unable to intervene, this can have a devastating effect on communities and neighbourhoods."

Nikki Thomas, the deputy director of the Sex Professionals of Canada, said when — not if — Himel's decision is affirmed by higher courts and comes into effect, it won't mean that prostitutes will ply their trade on playgrounds and bring sexual anarchy to the streets.

"All that you'll see is one of the most marginalized groups in the country will finally have the opportunity to take care of their own safety," she said outside court. (...)

 

[Steveman30]

I bet Harpo has no idea what most Canadians think or believe....just his cronies and those in his social circle (and it will probably come out that many of them see escorts on the side, just like in the US)

 

[Mommy of 2 awesome babies]

Joe Public's views on prostitution is it can exist as long as the bulk of society can't see that it exists. They don't mind knowing it exists, they just don't want to see evidence of it anywhere. A variation on Queen Victoria's "Don't do it on the street and scare the horses" line.

 

[Pompal 09.]

I think the recent pressure the Feds put on Craigslist to shut down their ads doesnt bode well for any prostitution getting legalized in Ontario (or Canada).
If anything Harper might go the Sweden route and make it illegal.

That Dominatrix shouldve left things alone perhaps