[dt_toronto_geek]

I'm all for this but there do need to be 'red light' districts or zoned areas so that brothels don't start popping up in apartment buildings, condos and homes throughout the city plus each sex trade worker needs to be licensed. Now if this country can finally get marijuana legalized, taxed and sold through government outlets we'd be in great shape fiscally.

 

[unimaginative2]

But what kind of base are you appealing to by snubbing your nose at the Charter or the Supreme Court?

The "It's the stupid charter"-chanting Tory base?

The Globe is doing a poll on this and the vast majority support decriminalization of prostitution. While the Tories will no doubt try to fight it, this isn't quite as revolutionary as it might seem. Plus, I'm not sure how this affects (or doesn't affect) the "body rub parlours" that already exist. Cities have extensively regulated those with licensing fees and tough zoning restrictions. The same will no doubt be the case for any brothels opened following this ruling.

 

[Admiral Beez]

Governments don't "strike down" laws; courts do.

The Attorney General will appeal this decision to the Supreme Court of Canada, and the Harper government will hope that it reverses the Court of Appeal and upholds the prostitution law as it is. Failing that, the best the government can do is rewrite the legislation to (again) prohibit pimping while at the same time conforming to the courts' interpretation of the Charter.

Even after that, there would be no guarantee that the new law would survive another Charter challenge.

No need for all this. Just enact the Notwithstanding Clause.

 

[adma]

Hopefully this doesn't get international attention. The last thing I want ontario to be known for is brothels.

Actually, I think Toronto's already known for its relative sex-industry freedom compared to a lot of US jurisdictions...

 

[sixrings]

Now we know what to do with the cne lands

 

[MisterF]

I don't get the fear of brothels popping up next door to people's houses. That wouldn't happen for the same reason that car dealerships and restaurants don't open on residential streets - they're controlled by the OP and zoning. No need to set up a red light district, just treat them like any other commercial use. Anyone who thinks prostitutes don't already do business in residential areas is fooling themselves. If anything, legitimizing brothels will allow the city to actually control where they go.

 

[Hank]

Governments don't "strike down" laws; courts do.

The Attorney General will appeal this decision to the Supreme Court of Canada, and the Harper government will hope that it reverses the Court of Appeal and upholds the prostitution law as it is. Failing that, the best the government can do is rewrite the legislation to (again) prohibit pimping while at the same time conforming to the courts' interpretation of the Charter.

Even after that, there would be no guarantee that the new law would survive another Charter challenge.

I hope that this decision gets appealed to the Supreme Court, not because I disagree with it (which I generally don't), but because I think that whatever happens should be the law of the land, not just of Ontario (although if it was restricted to Ontario, we could make a fortune off tourist dollars marketing our brothel industry to the ROC).

Regarding the law itself, the basic problem the courts had with the laws as they stood is that prostitution itself isn't illegal - it's everything surrounding it (communicating for the purposes of prostitution, living on the avails of prostitution, running a bawdy house) that's been made illegal. Basically the court said that, if Parliament has decided to make prostitution legal, then it can't restrict its activity in a way that puts the prostitutes at unnecessary risk. Assuming that the Supreme Court agrees with the Ontario Court of Appeal, it will still be open to Parliament to simply make prostitution itself illegal (re-enacting the rest of the laws in the process), at which point the courts really couldn't do anything.

I would be surprised if the government took such a drastic step, but it's always possible.

 

[Gavin]

Just my opinion, i sure wouldnt want a brothel next to my residence...do you

I hate to be the one to break it to you, but there's probably already a brothel -- or at least a few sex workers sharing a space -- in your neighbourhood whether you know it or not.

This book is a great read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paying_for_It

 

[freshcutgrass]

No need for all this. Just enact the Notwithstanding Clause.

I think it would be highly unlikely that even Harper would invoke s. 33 over this. The political and moral ramifications of a government suspending the rule of law and Charter rights far outweighs any moral feelings about prostitution, no matter how popular these feelings may be. All the leaders are on record as saying they would never use s. 33. That's why it was never used on other testy moral issues like abortion and same-sex marriage. I doubt any federal leader will ever use it...for any reason....it's too taboo.

 

[canmark]

Indeed, Toronto already has sex clubs and bathouses and stripper bars and rub 'n tugs of various kinds, so it's not like things are going to happen that aren't happening already. Now things will be more above board and legitimate.

New Zealand has allowed brothels for many years, and nobody is calling it the Amsterdam of the South Pacific.

Here's a 2010 Toronto Star article:
http://www.thestar.com/news/article...els-fantastic-for-new-zealand-prostitutes-say

And as for pimps and thugs and mafia running brothels, how about a soon-to-be-Olympic athlete? New Zealand Herald article: 'Brothel' athlete books Olympic ticket

An Auckland taekwondo sportsman who caused a stir when he opened a brothel to fund his bid to compete in this year's Olympics, has been named as one of the athletes contesting the games in London.

 

[Just_Chris]

Seems reasonable to me -- it helps get prostitution (which is, of course, legal) off the streets, which is safer and saner for everyone. And it means that "brothel" locations can be regulated, rather than either a) having streetwalkers, and/or b) prostitutes working out of their own residences illegally and without any regulation, and/or c) illegal brothels.

OK, but most of these brothels will probably just be people's apartments. Would you want the apartment next to yours being turned into a brothel?

 

[freshcutgrass]

OK, but most of these brothels will probably just be people's apartments. Would you want the apartment next to yours being turned into a brothel?

What he's saying is, that this will lower the incidence of illegal brothels, by giving them legal status in appropriate locations.

I don't know what makes people think there will be more prostitution going on.

 

[SunriseChampion]

OK, but most of these brothels will probably just be people's apartments. Would you want the apartment next to yours being turned into a brothel?

Yeah, why not? I swear at times my own place has been like a brothel, except people will come and wash my dishes or make me a meal instead of paying cash. I don't see the problem with people getting laid. I mean, yeah, it sucks that some have to pay for it, but, really, what the problem is (sic)? Then again, I had to stop reading the casino thread for the same reason. Sky-is-bloody-well-falling histrionics.

And, it'd be kind of cool to have your neighbour running a brothel...for those annoying dry spells. Our overlords are finally starting to get with it and people want to complain? Geeze. Legalise drugs next and we can start focusing on actual social ills like income disparity.

 

[Northern Light]

Yeah, why not? I swear at times my own place has been like a brothel, except people will come and wash my dishes or make me a meal instead of paying cash. I don't see the problem with people getting laid. I mean, yeah, it sucks that some have to pay for it, but, really, what the problem is (sic)? Then again, I had to stop reading the casino thread for the same reason. Sky-is-bloody-well-falling histrionics.

And, it'd be kind of cool to have your neighbour running a brothel...for those annoying dry spells. Our overlords are finally starting to get with it and people want to complain? Geeze. Legalise drugs next and we can start focusing on actual social ills like income disparity.

I can not endorse this position too highly! Well put MTown

 

[SunriseChampion]

What he's saying is, that this will lower the incidence of illegal brothels, by giving them legal status in appropriate locations.

I don't know what makes people think there will be more prostitution going on.

Quite possibly the same people who falsely believe legalising drugs will lead to increased incidence of drug use. It's just not how things work.