Toronto News

Legalizing prostitution — why now?

Last week the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network released a report calling for the decriminalization of prostitution. What is suspect is not the predictable calling for decriminalization of the world’s oldest profession but the timing of the report’s release.

There has been no major overhaul of Canada’s prostitution laws since 1985 when the unworkable soliciting offence was removed and replaced with a law that makes communication for the purpose of prostitution in a public place illegal. It is also about 20 years since the full impact of the AIDS epidemic was known. It has also been a few years since prostitutes began to go missing in B.C. and other places that led to a lot of media attention about the dangers that women face while working the streets. So why are the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network calling for the legalization of prostitution at this particular time?

The conventional wisdom is that the report was released to coincide with the current federal election campaign. Now it is certainly a possibility that the authors of the report were so consumed by their work that they actually believe that decriminalization of prostitution will become a major campaign issue. The reality is that the parties are not about to drop the sponsorship scandal, daycare, health care, national unity and Stephen Harper’s secret agenda to focus on whether or not prostitution should be legalized. The NDP and the Bloc would be in favour of legalizing prostitution, the Conservatives would oppose it, and the Liberals would be for it or against it, depending upon which way the wind blows. From that point of view it would be interesting as Paul Martin would dither as he tried to play both sides.

There is a more logical justification for the timing of the report’s release. It coincided with the love-in that was held between Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty and Toronto Mayor David Miller when McGuinty announced the implementation of the City of Toronto Act. McGuinty referred to Toronto City Council as a "mature government (we have to remember that Dalton lies a lot) and is giving them more power including the power of taxation. Council will be allowed to tax such things as bar drinks, cigarettes and entertainment tickets. In other words, the municipal government will be able to impose sin taxes and even the most hardcore leftie will agree that prostitution is a sin, at least for the purposes of imposing taxes. Toronto City Council will now move to really fight for the legalization of prostitution so they can tax the income of hookers.

There are legitimate arguments that common bawdy house laws should be repealed. They are now only enforced if there is a complaint. And since Parliament has decided that prostitution per se is not illegal there is no valid reason for keeping that law on the books that makes prostitution illegal in private homes. Some people have the notion that those hookers who walk the streets can simply go into an apartment to ply their trade if it becomes legal. But those who turn tricks on the street will remain on the street whether it’s legal or not. To think that some crack addicted 18-year-old will somehow turn to conducting a tax-paying business if prostitution is legalized is absurd.

Last week, Toronto City Council agreed to issue "safe crack kits" to those who partake of the illegal drug and are considering setting up safe injection sites where those who take illegal drugs can safely break the law. These measures were praised by the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network. There is no doubt that this current "mature" council doesn’t give a damn about what takes place on the streets of the city or what effect the homeless, prostitutes and drug users have on the law abiding residents or businesses in Toronto. They couldn’t care less that children will be playing in yards littered with used crack pipes that will soon be emblazed with the City of Toronto logo.

Watch for Toronto City Council to jump on the decriminalization bandwagon. While they are busy imposing municipal taxes on booze and cigarettes they will be championing the legality of prostitution so that they can increase their tax base to keep their unionized buddies in the style that they have grown accustomed to.

Toronto has already ceded the city’s streets to the criminals and the druggies; now they will fight for the opportunity to try and tax some of them.

Arthur Weinreb is an author, columnist and Associate Editor of Canada Free Press. His work has appeared on Newsmax.com, Men's News Daily, Drudge Report, Foxnews.com, Glenn Beck and The Rant. Arthur can be reached at: aweinreb@rogers.com

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