Conservatives’ Prostitution Bill Receives Fresh Criticism

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

Canada: Oye! Times readers Get FREE $30 to spend on Amazon, Walmart…
USA: Oye! Times readers Get FREE $30 to spend on Amazon, Walmart…

The conservatives’ prostitution bill is once again receiving sheer criticism as more than 200 legal experts gather to send an open letter to the prime minister urging him to reconsider his new prostitution bill. Most prominently, the letter points out that parts of the bill pose severe risks to sex workers or can even be unconstitutional.

The letter begins with saying that “we are concerned about the direction your government is taking with respect to adult prostitution in Canada.” Furthermore, the letter mentions that “Bill C-36 … proposes a legal regime that criminalizes many aspects of adult prostitution, including the purchase of sexual services, the advertisement of sexual services, and most communication in public for the purpose of prostitution.” The unanimous letter is set to be released later today, i.e. the same time when Justice Minister Peter MacKay is expected to defend the bill as the first witness before the House of Commons justice committee.

The previous bill tabled by the Conservatives government last year was struck down by the Supreme Court of Canada in December, it ruled several parts of the bill to be in violation of the basic Charter of Rights and Freedoms to security of the person. Thereafter, the court allowed the government to have one year to replace the law. Conclusively, the letter claims that “we are concerned that, for the very same reasons that caused the court to strike down these prostitution laws, the criminal regime proposed in Bill C-36 is likely to offend the Charter as well.”