http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2010/09/28/15506066.html
In a landmark ruling, an Ontario court has struck down prostitution laws as unconstitutional.
While it legally means the law can no longer be enforced in Ontario, a provincial Crown attorney is expected to ask for business as usual until the decision by the Ontario Superior Court can be appealed.
In her 131-page ruling, Justice Susan Himel said the current offences under the criminal code endanger sex workers.
"By increasing the risk of harm to street prostitutes, the communicating law is simply too high a price to pay for the alleviation of social nuisance," Himel wrote.
Prostitution has always been technically legal, while virtually every activity associated with it was not.
The challenge launched last fall by three sex trade workers strikes down three prostitution-related offences: communicating for the purpose of prostitution, keeping a bawdy house for the purposes of prostitution, and living on the avails of prostitution.
In a landmark ruling, an Ontario court has struck down prostitution laws as unconstitutional.
While it legally means the law can no longer be enforced in Ontario, a provincial Crown attorney is expected to ask for business as usual until the decision by the Ontario Superior Court can be appealed.
In her 131-page ruling, Justice Susan Himel said the current offences under the criminal code endanger sex workers.
"By increasing the risk of harm to street prostitutes, the communicating law is simply too high a price to pay for the alleviation of social nuisance," Himel wrote.
Prostitution has always been technically legal, while virtually every activity associated with it was not.
The challenge launched last fall by three sex trade workers strikes down three prostitution-related offences: communicating for the purpose of prostitution, keeping a bawdy house for the purposes of prostitution, and living on the avails of prostitution.