Court considers sex work ruling

A Toronto appeal court is deciding Monday whether to uphold a ruling that decriminalizes prostitution.

Last year an Ontario judge struck down three key anti-prostitution laws, but the ruling was put on hold pending the appeal. Superior Court judge Susan Himel said the laws against keeping a bawdy house, communicating for the purposes of prostitution and living on the avails are contributing to the danger faced by prostitutes.

Law professor Alan Young doesn’t expect a massive change in the sex trade. “What would change is eventually governments would have to respond, because like any trade and industry, it should be regulated.”

Dominatrix Terri-Jean Redford says “these law are unfair and unsafe for women. Prime Minister Harper is condoning the behaviour of pimps, serial killers, bad dates, bad clients.”

Sex workers’ advocate Valerie Scott wants to see the world’s oldest profession legitimized. “We’d like occupational health and safety standards. We’d like up to 4 women to be able to work together for safety.”

The federal and Ontario governments argue the laws should stay on the books. Al Sweeney has more in this report: