Sweet Emily J

An alternate option to e-mail notification is the Tap-A-Talk app. I have it set up on my phone and get instant push notifications for private messages and subscribed threads. I found the e-mail notifications annoying, and find this much better. Unless there is some reason I've missed that someone would need the e-mail notifications specifically, I much prefer the Tap-a-Talk notifications.

Via: http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/views-expressed/2014/03/ah-shouldnt-canadas-new-sex-work-legislation-include-workers-#.UzsmQuXJTdk.twitter Re: The in-person govtconsultation with stakeholder representatives

You can only do this in the SP-Only section. That's probably where you saw it :)

I agree, the host did pretty good. For the most part, he didn't let the crazy callers get away with spouting illogical, moral, and hateful BS without fair opposition and questioning. Some action during & post-show on Twitter under the hashtag #CanadiansTalk :)

[CENTER][FONT="Papyrus"][COLOR="DeepPink"][SIZE="3"] Hi! My name is Emily J! :biggrin: I am an independent GFE erotic massage provider! I offer my services at my discreet, private incall studio in the west end. Situated close to the 417 in a clean & safe high-rise building, my location is convenient, and easy to get to, with plenty of free parking. My warm & cozy space is fully equipped with a heavy-duty professional massage table, high quality massage oils, and all the other necessary supplies to make your experience enjoyable! I also have a private shower available for you to use before and/or after your massage, which is stocked with fresh towels, various soaps & bodywash gels, and all the other toiletries you need! [IMG]http://i2.wp.com/www.sweetemilyj.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/ottawa-escorts-emily-j-22.jpg?resize=143%2C301[/IMG] It will just be you & me! A quiet, private & relaxing atmosphere, with soft music, soft hands, and soft caresses. Everyone needs regular human touch. Take some time for yourself! Visit my website to learn more, including services, rates, and availability! [SIZE="6"]ð??º [URL="http://www.sweetemilyj.com"][COLOR="Black"]www.SweetEmilyJ.com[/COLOR][/URL] ð??º[/SIZE] [/SIZE][/COLOR][/FONT][/CENTER]

[COLOR="Black"][SIZE="3"][CENTER][FONT="Noteworthy"] Hey Lads! My name is Emily J! :makeout: I am new to erotic massage, but already established within the local adult entertainment industry! As a [URL="http://www.cerb.ca/vbulletin/showthread.php?ltr=E&t=91821"][COLOR="DeepPink"]well-recommended[/COLOR][/URL] independent provider, I am now offering sensual GFE massage services at my discreet, private incall studio. Situated close to the 417 in a clean & safe high-rise building, my location is convenient, and easy to get to, with plenty of free parking. My warm & cozy space is fully equipped with a heavy-duty professional massage table, high quality massage oils, and all the other necessary supplies to make your experience enjoyable! I also have a private shower available for you to use before and/or after your massage, which is stocked with fresh towels, various soaps & bodywash gels, and all the other toiletries you need! [IMG]http://i2.wp.com/www.sweetemilyj.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/independent-escorts-ottawa-emily-10.jpg?resize=316%2C316[/IMG][IMG]http://i1.wp.com/www.sweetemilyj.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/independent-escorts-ottawa-emily-12.jpg?resize=316%2C316[/IMG][IMG]http://i1.wp.com/www.sweetemilyj.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/ottawa-escorts-emily-j-8.jpg?resize=316%2C316[/IMG] It will just be you & me! A quiet, private & relaxing atmosphere, with soft music, soft hands, and soft caresses. Everyone needs regular human touch. Take some time for yourself! Visit my website to learn more, including services, rates, and availability![/SIZE][/COLOR] [SIZE="6"]ð??º [URL="http://www.sweetemilyj.com"][COLOR="DeepPink"]www.SweetEmilyJ.com[/COLOR][/URL] ð??º[/SIZE][/FONT][/CENTER]

[CENTER][FONT="Noteworthy"][COLOR="DarkViolet"][SIZE="3"] Hello Massage Lovers! My name is Emily J! :biggrin: I am new to erotic massage, but already well-established within the local adult entertainment industry! As a highly-recommended independent provider, I am now offering sensual GFE massage services at my discreet, private incall studio. Situated close to the 417 in a clean & safe high-rise building, my location is convenient, and easy to get to, with plenty of free parking. My warm & cozy space is fully equipped with a heavy-duty professional massage table, high quality massage oils, and all the other necessary supplies to make your experience enjoyable! I also have a private shower available for you to use before and/or after your massage, which is stocked with fresh towels, various soaps & bodywash gels, and all the other toiletries you need! [IMG]http://i2.wp.com/www.sweetemilyj.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/independent-escorts-ottawa-emily-10.jpg?resize=316%2C316[/IMG][IMG]http://i1.wp.com/www.sweetemilyj.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/independent-escorts-ottawa-emily-12.jpg?resize=316%2C316[/IMG][IMG]http://i1.wp.com/www.sweetemilyj.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/ottawa-escorts-emily-j-8.jpg?resize=316%2C316[/IMG] It will just be you & me! A quiet, private & relaxing atmosphere, with soft music, soft hands, and soft caresses. Everyone needs regular human touch. Take some time for yourself! Visit my website to learn more, including services, rates, and availability! [SIZE="6"]ð??º [URL="http://www.sweetemilyj.com"][COLOR="ForestGreen"]www.SweetEmilyJ.com[/COLOR][/URL] ð??º[/SIZE] [/SIZE][/COLOR][/FONT][/CENTER]

[B][U]The New Zealand Sex-Work Model[/U][/B] BY SANDRA KA HON CHU AND CATHERINE HEALY, OTTAWA CITIZEN MARCH 16, 2014 2:34 PM [URL="http://www.ottawacitizen.com/opinion/Zealand+work+model/9623498/story.html"]http://www.ottawacitizen.com/opinion/Zealand+work+model/9623498/story.html[/URL] [QUOTE] â??Sex workers are as much entitled to protection from sexual harassment as those working in other occupations.â? So said a recent ruling by New Zealandâ??s Human Rights Tribunal, which awarded a sex worker sizable damages for sexual harassment by a brothel owner. A progressive decision that upholds sex workersâ?? rights in this manner is only conceivable in jurisdictions such as New Zealand, where sex work was decriminalized 10 years ago when the Prostitution Reform Act came into operation. In Canada, weâ??ve been sold a false dilemma that presents only the possibility of a â??Nordicâ? or â??Swedishâ? regime or, alternatively, â??Dutchâ? approach that regulates prostitution in our country. Since the Supreme Court struck down criminal laws prohibiting communication in public for the purpose of prostitution, living off the avails of prostitution and keeping a common bawdy house, the Nordic regime appears to be the approach the federal government is favouring. But Canadian sex workers, those who have the biggest stake in this discussion, know that New Zealandâ??s model for sex work merits much closer consideration. Prior to the Prostitution Reform Act, New Zealandâ??s prostitution laws were very similar to ours. Prostitution itself was not criminalized, but virtually all activities associated with it were, such as soliciting in public, living on the avails, operating a brothel and procuring. Adopted to safeguard sex workersâ?? human rights, the 2003 law changed everything. Sex workers in New Zealand are now covered by labour laws to promote their welfare and occupational health and safety, and refusal to work as a sex worker does not affect entitlements to unemployment insurance. Proponents of public health recognize that these laws enable frank displays of safer sex information in sex-work venues. Indeed, studies show high levels of condom use and a very low rate of HIV among New Zealandâ??s sex workers. In the decade since its passage, the Prostitution Reform Act has not resulted in any growth of the sex industry or increase in number of sex workers, nor has the sky fallen. The Prostitution Law Review Committee, headed by a former police commissioner and charged with reviewing the lawâ??s operation after its enactment, also found that there has been a marked improvement in employment conditions and a decrease in violence against sex workers. As the Committee concluded, this was possible chiefly because the 2003 law empowered sex workers by removing the illegality of their work. Sex workers and the police appreciate these laws that foster better relationships and create an environment wherein sex workers can more readily report crimes committed against them. Sex workers, including those who work on the street, in managed brothels, alone or with their peers from home, feel more able to refuse clients or a particular sexual practice, a strong indication that decriminalization of prostitution enhances their autonomy and safety. But progressive laws alone cannot completely eliminate the stigma which can act as a barrier to sex workers speaking out about abuse. Moreover, there are calls for increased supports to improve safety by encouraging street-based sex workers to work indoors and supporting their transition out of sex work if they desire through social programs. Nevertheless, there is no substantiated evidence of trafficking despite repeated efforts by the immigration department to locate victims and traffickers. New Zealand still ranks as the most favourable Tier 1 status in the U.S. 2013 Trafficking In Persons Report, and has been ever since New Zealand was included in the report in 2004. Contrary to misguided beliefs, there is also no evidence that young people are being recruited into sex work by thugs. Canada must overcome the fallacy of false choice and see beyond the Nordic and Dutch models of regulating sex work. Looking at New Zealandâ??s forward thinking and subsequent success would enable the development of laws that promote health, safety and human rights and better protect sex workers from violence and exploitation. If Canada is serious about respecting everyoneâ??s rights to health and security, letâ??s pick the right role models. [B]Sandra Ka Hon Chu is the co-director of research and advocacy at the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network. Catherine Healy is national co-ordinator of the New Zealand Prostitutesâ?? Collective.[/B] [/QUOTE]

[B][U]Sex Workers Have Labor Rights Just Like Any Other Employee in NZ[/U][/B] [URL="http://www.osundefender.org/?p=153773"]http://www.osundefender.org/?p=153773[/URL] [QUOTE] Last month, the New Zealand Human Rights Review Tribunal made a landmark ruling on the violation of a womanâ??s human rights in a Wellington brothel known as The Kensington Inn, run by one Aaron Montgomery. But the case didnâ??t involve the typical media tropes of a worker being â??sold into slaveryâ? or abused by a sadistic client. Rather, the employee filed a complaint against both Montgomery and Kensingtonâ??s owner, M &T Enterprises, after Montgomery allegedly harassed her. In February, the Tribunal published a decision siding with the workerâ??thereby confirming that brothel employees have the legal right not to be harassed by their managers, just like they do in any other profession. When it comes to debates about sex work, feminists often raise the concept that itâ??s a â??job like any other,â? as journalist and former sex worker Melissa Gira Grant has explained. Yet the exchange of sex for pay remains a curiously radical notion for many around the world. While itâ??s certainly true that sex work is a real career born of both necessity and ambition for many, it also comes laden with social anxiety and culture-war taboo. In New Zealand, however, the occupationâ??s decriminalization over the last decade has helped push back the countryâ??s Victorian-era morality laws to foreground human rights in the sex sector. And last monthâ??s Tribunal ruling further affirms sex workâ??s legitimacy as a profession and the workersâ?? agency as labourers. In her complaint, the worker claimed Montgomery regularly made intrusive inquiries during the period of harassment in 2010, such as asking â??several times whether she would have anal sex with clients and whether she â??swallowedâ?? when performing oral sexâ? and â??whether she was â??shavedâ??â?â??i.e., had gotten a Brazilian bikini wax. The worker had, as a matter of company protocol, supplied information about waxing and which services she would provide to be kept on file, making Montgomeryâ??s alleged questions completely unnecessary. Moreover, the information was intended for negotiations with clients in order to facilitate her business, not to sate her bossâ?? curiosity. According to the worker, Montgomery also made offensive comments about her appearanceâ??such as â??you should give up your burgersâ?â??that damaged her self-esteem and made her job experience miserable. In other words, Montgomery was reportedly acting as if expected boundaries of civil discourse and privacy in a labor-management relationship somehow did not apply in a brothel. On top of the inappropriate behavior, the plaintiff said, Montgomery sought to restrict communications among staff: a classic tactic employed by oppressive employers to keep workers divided and thus less able to take collective action against unfair treatment. As an experienced worker, the plaintiff would guide newer workers to the New Zealand Prostitutesâ?? Collective (NZPC) as a resource for free reproductive health services and â??a place where problems could be discussed, such as difficult clients.â? But Montgomery, according to the report, â??was not happy about this and on several occasions yelled at the plaintiff and instructed her not to tell other workers about the NZPC.â? The tensions escalated as he allegedly started to â??criticize her for hanging out with the other women outside work,â? constraining her free association rights. Ultimately, the Tribunal found that Montgomery had â??used language of a sexual nature to subject the plaintiff to behavior which to the plaintiff was both unwelcome and offensive and was either repeated or of such a significant nature that it had a detrimental effect on the plaintiff.â? The woman was awarded NZ$25,000 for emotional damages. Montgomery, who has denied the charges, no longer runs the brothel. The power of the ruling is in its objective banality; after all, bosses who violate workersâ?? rights, intrude on their privacy or otherwise behave inappropriately, are out of bounds, period, whether theyâ??re in a corporate board room or a massage parlor. Given sex workâ??s history of stigmatization, however, the fact that the law worked is arguably remarkable. Even the clinical legal language of the Tribunalâ??s report is a refreshing contrast to the sensationalized depictions of sex workers in the media; the plaintiff comes across as neither the tormented victim nor the unredeemed whore. Instead, the complaintâ??and the rulingâ??centers on her demand for equality and respect in the workplace, and her resistance to a reportedly abusive boss. Catherine Healy, co-founder of the NZPC, which helped the worker bring the complaint to the Tribunal, tells In These Timesthe decision marks a legal breakthrough in the country. New Zealand officially decriminalized sex work in 2003, mandating licensing for sex-work businesses and imposing health and safety standards for the sector. During the days of criminalization, Healy recalls, managers like Montgomery would have been penalized for operating a brothel rather than violating his employeeâ??s rights: Of course, you donâ??t want your manager to be sent to prison for five years [for running the business], because you wanted to be a sex workerâ?¦ and you just wanted the sex harassment to be addressedâ?¦. [Now] with sex work being decriminalized, you can focus on the very exploitative behavior that you want to be addressed, and we donâ??t have to be concerned that the nature of the activityâ??s illegal. More than ten years on, the Tribunal ruling marks another milestone for sex workers by showing how they can use the legal system to advocate for themselves on an equal basis with other citizens. â??The authorities now can understand that itâ??s not the nature of sex work that is the bothersome thing at all,â? says Healy. Rather, â??itâ??s the behaviors that go around [it] in terms of labor law, in terms of having a fair contract, having rights to realize and access justice. â?¦ For us, it feels very historic.â? Advocates have long argued that the mistreatment of sex workers is a byproduct of endemic stigma and criminalization, which expose workers to discrimination, violence, structural poverty, and the increased threat of sexual assault and sexually transmitted disease. Though many sex workers do struggle with economic or social hardship, activists say the tradeâ??s underlying moral problem lies not with the profession, but with the society that systematically condemns it. Decriminalization has alleviated some of these problems in New Zealand. Research indicates since the Prostitution Reform Actpassed, more sex workers say theyâ??re able to work for themselves rather than tie themselves to, for instance, an underground massage parlor. Many also report feeling freer to negotiate with clients over providing services and safe sex practices, as well as experiencing improved relations with the police. This progress reflects the evolution of sex worker activism as a public health and human rights movement, which emerged decades ago as a strand of radical feminism and in response to the rise of the HIV/AIDS crisis. But gaps in the law remain, Healy saysâ??particularly for street-based sex workers, who still face legal and social discrimination for plying their trade in public. In recent years, some anti-sex work activists in New Zealand have also pushed for zoning and commercial restrictions on publicly selling sex. Additionally, the pendulum may now be swinging further backward on a global scale, with a recent surge in anti-sex worker legislation gaining momentum in supposedly liberal countries like the United Kingdom and France. Campaigns are also advancing worldwide for the so-called â??Swedish model,â? which aims to reduce â??demandâ? by punishing clients and sex-service businesses directly (and workers indirectly). â??I think weâ??re at a crossroads again,â? Healy says. â??Itâ??s just unbelievable that people are gaining traction to push for the criminalization of the client and the third parties.â? In New Zealand, at least, the Tribunalâ??s decision is staving off the moral crusadersâ?? reactionary backlash. At the Kensington, sex workers now know they can pursue their work in peace and stand up for the right to do their jobsâ??just like anyone else. [/QUOTE]

[B][U]Female Sex Workers and Feminism: Liberation or Degradation?[/U][/B] By [URL="http://www.dailycampus.com/search-1.1290225?ifByAuthor=true&sortOrder=newestFirst&q=author%3A%22Victoria+Kallsen%22&fq=page%3A2.6818"]Victoria Kallsen[/URL] [URL="http://www.dailycampus.com/commentary/female-sex-workers-and-feminism-liberation-or-degradation-1.3149727#.UyVQg_3jcdu"]http://www.dailycampus.com/commentary/female-sex-workers-and-feminism-liberation-or-degradation-1.3149727#.UyVQg_3jcdu[/URL] [QUOTE] In a sex-negative society, the backlash against sex workers (those employed in the porn or sex service field) is severe. Until the exploitation of women in this field with is dealt with, an empowering sex-positive environment for female sex workers will never be fully realized. However, if entered into without causation by economic, violent and oppressive conditions, sex work can be viewed as a legitimate service complete with its own rights and protections. It all comes back to the ever important choice of the woman in question and a belief that the government shouldnâ??t impose moral restrictions on her body. By refusing that choice, feminists are no different than those they speak out against. Empowering or victimizing? Itâ??s this question regarding sex work that all feminists ponder. The greatest failing of feminism is the exclusivity and privilege issues even amongst women who should have a better clue about oppression. Education on the perspectives of sex workers becomes invaluable in these discussions because theyâ??ve already been there. During my research for this piece, it became steadily apparent that here were the voices of women who were prejudiced against and silenced not just by the patriarchy. Their experiences were also being denied by feminists. â??There is nothing more misogynist than implying/stating that Iâ??m selling â??myselfâ?? when I sell sex,â? Molly, one sex worker, said to BuzzFeed. â??I am a lot more than my vagina and what I do in bed, and I expect feminists to understand that.â? The myriad of reasons why the sex industry can be crippling include sex trafficking, sexual violence, the criminal status of prostitutes and the general skewing of the market as a male-only club. However, the inherent flaws in the system shouldnâ??t prevent feminists and others from embracing sex workers. Often sex work is seen as a send up to the Patriarchy and participation in it is frowned upon. By classifying all sex workers as victims, we rob them of their agency. Simply put, non-sex workers canâ??t impress their experiences with sex onto those who have entered the sex service field. This matter re-emerged when Duke University freshman, â??Belle Knox,â? divulged her story to the public. Starting in the fall of last year, Knox worked in the porn industry on school breaks to subsidize her tuition costs of over $60,000 a year. Knox has chided both sides of the aisle for slut-shaming her career profession. â??To be perfectly honest, I felt more degraded in a minimum wage, blue-collar, low paying, service job than I ever did doing porn,â? Knox said to Duke Universityâ??s â??The Chronicle.â? As I previously articulated, sex work is a complicated field, and feminists should pay closer attention to how criminalization of sex workers leads to worsening conditions. Because of the shadier nature of their business, more risks must be taken so far as decisions regarding choice of client, cost and safety, according to Mollyâ??s reports to BuzzFeed. â??Sex workers are driven away from well-known, well-lit beats where they can work together and look out for each other, and into darker, quieter streets,â? Molly said. As a feminist, we should work to better the choice to enter in sex work and allow those who choose the field to do so without prodding from economic concerns, sexual violence and other abuses. In other words, we should start treating sex workers as human beings. I will borrow again from those with more experience than I and quote porn mode Minnie Scarlet speaking to RH Reality Check. â??If feminism has any role, it would be to educate people in general that women, whether you agree with their choices or not, are people who are capable of making their own decisions,â? Scarlet said. Weâ??re already a part of a society that has long decided our roles for us as mothers, wives, sex objects and baby-makers (aka â??hostsâ?). We have been feeding the fire simply because their view of sexuality isnâ??t in line with ours. Itâ??s time to be an ally and stand hand in hand with others, even if those hands have seen more action than yours. (Admittedly, male (particularly homosexual) and trans sex workers were neglected for the sake of brevity. It is not my intention to marginalize those experiences, but to concede that they are deserving of more attention than can be provided in this format.) [/QUOTE]

Tomorrow is the last day, folks! Do it. http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/cons/curr-cours/proscons-conspros/index.html#2014--02--17

Definitely not always the case. Everyone has their own way of doing things, but for me personally, sometimes I only post an ad once a week on BP, yet I might still be available for appointments 6 days that week. Same with my ads on CERB and elsewhere. Everyone has their own balance and what works for them, but IMO sometimes less is more, and from a marketing/advertising perspective, there is many reasons why that is.

Interesting point-of-view. I guess it depends on how you look at it. Since a regular listing is $10 and a sponsor ad is approx $30-40 depending on the week, I consider the sponsor ad to be more expensive, but I can see how one would find it cheaper, over the course of a week. The sponsor ad includes a week listed on the side, and a one time post in the regular listings. The $10 regular ad still stays in the listings for a much longer than a week, but goes lower in the listings, while the sponsor ad stays at the side, for one week only. But I think it makes more sense to bump a regular listing 3-4 times a week to the top rather than purchase a sponsor ad for the same price. Especially with their stupid community removal crap, the last few times I bought sponsors, they got removed very shortly after, so I felt ripped off. I had a feeling they weren't looked at very often though. I wish BP would give us an idea of clicks per ad. Thanks everyone for responding so far! :)

Why Belle Knox's Anonymity Was So Important, As Told by an Out Sex Worker By Eric Barry http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eric-barry/why-the-anonymity-of-sex-_b_4906862.html

AMAZING follow up from that story: I'M FINALLY REVEALING MY NAME AND FACE AS THE DUKE PORN STAR I've never been told to die in quite so many ways. By Belle Knox http://www.xojane.com/sex/belle-knox-duke-university-freshman-porn-star

Yeah, that makes sense. I'm definitely not a conspiracy theorist. We really don't know who was invited, or how the discussion played out. I think that sometimes for me, and others, it is just reflexive second nature to immediately be wary and cry foul, since we're often left out the important conversations. But who knows, considering the arguments on both sides, this consultation and possible subsequent others could very well work out in our favour. I've actually been of the belief for a while now, that the govt is not likely to introduce new prostitution laws. This will just be another part of their big game of posturing. They'll keep talking about their big badass tough ideas, to appease the antis, but they have no interest in real legislation. They'll probably introduce tougher trafficking and exploitation laws with more jail time for offenders, and make a big scene of it. At the same time, they'll introduce some kind of big awesome way to make it look like they're helping victims, like more comprehensive programs for the most vulnerable sex workers to get help and find alternative work, with parts of their plan focussing on addiction, mental health & housing etc etc. Then they'll use the online & in-person consultations as just one way to justify not introducing prostitution-specific criminal law, by saying that Canadians have told them that they don't want more criminal laws (and they don't). Peter MacKay already said after the SCC ruling that there is "other laws in place to address the harms that flow from prostitution" (and there is), he's not stupid. They're just playing the game.

[B]Regional regulations, rather than federal criminal law, suggested[/B] By Jeremy Hainsworth [URL="http://dailyxtra.com/vancouver/news/stop-criminalizing-sex-work-vancouver-sex-workers-say"]http://dailyxtra.com/vancouver/news/stop-criminalizing-sex-work-vancouver-sex-workers-say[/URL] [QUOTE] Vancouver sex workers say the federal government should seek their advice as it considers changes to the Criminal Code following the Supreme Court of Canadaâ??s ruling that struck down several prostitution laws as overly broad. The court repeatedly found that the laws put sex workers in jeopardy, violating Section 7 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which protects Canadians from laws that threaten their life, liberty and security. The federal government has until the end of 2014 to pass new laws on sex work. On Feb 17 it launched an [URL="http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/cons/curr-cours/proscons-conspros/index.html#2014_02_17"]online consultation [/URL]to ask Canadians for their input and, on March 3, the Department of Justice announced it held â??a consultation with a number of stakeholder representatives to seek their views and input.â? â??Our government is consulting not only with all Canadians, but also with representatives from a cross-section of interest groups, to seek their views and input to inform our response to prostitution,â? Minister of Justice and Attorney General Peter MacKay said in a news release. â??The government is taking action to maintain the safety of our streets and communities by ensuring that a legislative response truly reflects Canadian values.â? Professional dominatrix Velvet Steele, 28-year veteran sex worker Susan Davis, and Joyce Arthur, a founding member of FIRST, a national feminist sex worker advocacy organization, say itâ??s time for a national conversation. But Steele is skeptical that the government will listen. â??They already have it in their framework as to what they want to do,â? she surmises. â??Iâ??m hesitant to believe there will be a listening process going on here.â? Davis says sex workers are making submissions to encourage change but she too has a â??horrible sick feeling that weâ??re going to wind up where we were.â? In a Feb 5 letter to MacKay, Manitoba justice minister Andrew Swan said new laws should target the people buying sex, while helping sex-trade workers get addiction counselling, mental-health services and training to get out of the trade. Swan says in the letter that the â??essence of the Nordic model is not to make it illegal for a person to sell their sexual services but to make it a criminal offence to purchase sexual services or to procure sexual services for another person.â? But sex workers and advocates say such a move would continue to keep sex work criminalized while endangering sex workers and denying them safe working conditions. â??What would be the point of criminalizing the client?â? Steele asks. â??It would be invalidating the fact it is work.â? Criminalizing clients means those clients would seek to lure sex workers into dark and dangerous places so they wonâ??t be caught by police, she adds. â??Itâ??s just another area that is unsafe.â? Davis wants all provisions related to prostitution in the Criminal Code removed. Arthur agrees. â??Any kind of criminal law is going to infringe on the rights of sex workers,â? she says. â??If they pass a criminal law, especially a Swedish-type model, itâ??s going to get challenged,â? she says. â??The sex workers in Sweden are still operating under a criminal environment.â? Steele has already sent a submission to the government and is encouraging others, both in the sex work community and allies, to do so too. She says the notion that income from sex work is invalid needs to shift. â??All this trying to tell people what to do with their bodies is nonsense,â? she says. â??Just ask us. Hear me out. Give me a voice.â? She says the government should be looking at changing labour laws to include sex work, giving workers the chance to receive the Canada Pension Plan, insurance, medical and dental benefits. Davis wants to see standards for sex work implemented, information about workspaces created for workers. She suggests occupational health and safety guidelines could be created too. She also suggests that changes need to start at the municipal level, where zoning and work permits are considered. Two days before the high court paved the way toward possibly decriminalizing sex work, Vancouver city council unanimously passed a motion to accept recommendations intended to increase safety and services for sex workers here. The report, prepared by the cityâ??s Sex Work and Sexual Exploitation Task Force, acknowledged work already underway on support services, exit strategies, housing, bylaws, training and services for youth, examined recommendations from the Missing Women inquiry and presented recommendations of its own. Steele says the recommendations put the city out in front of the country. But, she points out, the city had to go through the very public process of the Pickton serial killer case to arrive at that point. Arthur suggests addressing sex work on a local or regional basis, rather than federally. â??Why not leave it up to the provinces or the municipalities to regulate sex work?â? she asks. She says communities should work together to figure out what regulations would work. â??It would be best if the federal government bowed out entirely,â? she says, adding the government could perhaps create guidelines for local implementation. The women also expressed dismay at the ongoing push in some quarters to focus on exit strategies for those in sex work. Steele says thereâ??s a need to determine if people are getting into or out of the work for themselves. â??We need to analyze if entry is their own decision or someone elseâ??s,â? she says. â??â??Exiting to a healthier lifestyle is a value judgment.â? Adds Davis, â??I donâ??t need rescuing.â? [/QUOTE]

This is the first I've heard of this. There was nothing about it posted on the Justice Dept website until today. I just did a little digging, looking for more info. I've heard that it was a closed door meeting, no Hansard, no minutes taken, no notes allowed. Some sex work activist/journalist/org Twitter accounts I follow said they've scoured their sex work contacts to find anyone who attended, or anyone who knows someone who attended, and have come up dry. Nikki Thomas tweeted that knows someone who attended, but is "not sure if they can speak about it". Seems there is a lot of mystery shrouding this "consultation". The folks at http://www.afterbedford.com are seeking info about the meeting under the Access to Information Act Canada. A few good sources of up to date info on Canadian sex work stuff are these Twitter accounts: https://twitter.com/AfterBedford https://twitter.com/SexSafetySecure https://twitter.com/CanadianSexPro