To the Editor:
Ontario could have three key prostitution laws lifted this Saturday, dependent on whether the Ontario Court of Justice rules to give the government more time to consider until a proper appeal can be heard.
A September ruling by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice struck down the laws of keeping a common bawdy house, communicating for the purposes of prostitution and living off the avails of the trade. There have been many laws that disable prostitution, though prostitution is not illegal in Canada.
I find this situation in Ontario to be entirely alarming and I applaud the federal government for their courage to stand up and say, "This will not work." The government has expressed concern that prostitution is inherently dangerous and that revoking these laws will loose a social experiment upon Canada. We cannot stand by and watch the provincial government of Ontario wreak chaos and havoc on us as a province. It's time we got our hands dirty in the affairs of our society and among our own people. Think about all the sex-trade workers that would begin to flood into Ontario from all provinces and the "free-for-all" mentality that would naturally establish itself.
As someone who has advocated for the end of human trafficking in Canada, striking down these laws would undoubtedly open up the way for human trafficking to flourish. Though the laws that are being struck down are related to adult prostitution, the line will soon become blurry and distant, easily hiding the child prostitution industry. If we support these laws being struck down, we are essentially encouraging the promotion of Canada as a sex tourism destination. I have witnessed what happens to cities of sex tourism, and it provides only an atmosphere of corruption and greed. Last I checked, money and power were not a priority on Canada's global agenda, and her character has proved to be a little higher than that.
Lastly, the removal of these laws will create a gray area for criminals to hide and will breed violent crime. I am not interested in opening the door to seeing people exploited, crime rise and gang involvement increase. I am interested in supporting law that protects women, decreases crime and celebrates the dignity of people. If we begin to support law (by the void of law) that degrades women into a possession and opens up a realm of exploitation and assault, we have not done our job.
We were made to protect our people, not turn our heads away. The minute we start looking in the other direction and leave the protection of people up to the discretion of each other rather than the discretion of the state, we have stepped into chaos, we have made the statement, "you are not worth it."
Ashley Beaudin, Grimsby ON.
