The subject who is truly loyal to the Chief Magistrate will neither advise nor submit to arbitrary measures. Sex worker Teri-Jean Bedford, left, and Valerie Scott of Sex Professionals of Canada, right, address the media following an Ontario court ruling striking down prostitution laws on Sep 28, This article was published more than 7 years ago. Some information in it may no longer be current. Ontario cities could be getting brothels as early as next year, thanks to a ruling from the province's top court this week.
The decision allows prostitutes to hire bodyguards, starting next month, but upheld a ban on street solicitation. This means municipalities could start issuing licences so that prostitutes could operate brothels as any other small business.
Proponents say the move to legalization fights trafficking, helps prevent violence and gives sex workers a safe, controllable environment. To get more details, we contacted Valerie Scott, a former sex worker and the legal co-ordinator and former executive director of Sex Professionals of Canada.
She answered Globe reader questions on Tuesday. Reader Chris Risk: What is the next step? Will [Sex Professionals of Canada]begin discussions with municipalities around issues of licensing, etc? Scott: Municipalities need to make sure that licences are a reasonable fee. If they charge thousands of dollars per year, sex workers will not be able to afford a licence, but organized crime will. We don't want to see another Amsterdam fiasco. Also, municipalities need to hold meaningful discussions with sex worker rights organizations about regulating our occupation.
For the past two years, Canadian sex worker groups have been meeting to discuss municipal law, employment and labour laws, income tax laws, company laws, pension plans, workers compensation, union laws, etc. When Rob Ford was running for mayor, and just prior to our first win in Ontario Superior Court, we wrote to him requesting a meeting. He refused, saying that associating with people like us could be damaging to his character. He was in the middle of an election campaign and didn't seem to know who we are.
