Constitutional Changes - Next Action Steps

[Old Dog 179138]

If I could give you some reputation Cat, I would. Well done.

 

Organize.

 

Inform the public.

 

Dispel the rumours, innuendo and falsehoods.

 

Those who can, give the cause a face.

 

There are TONS of public threads on this. The CBC has one related to this story... sign up, sign on, and speak up.

 

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2010/09/28/prostitution-law028.html

 

Find others and let them know of your standards, your morals, your business.... push it!!!!

[Guest W***ledi*Time]

... We must contact our Member of Parliaments’ Regional Offices and their Parliament office. They need to be flooded with emails and phone calls supporting this decision. We must contact the Opposition and other parties to ensure they all know that the support of the people is in this ruling. This is imperative...

 

Hear Hear!

[VedaSloan 119179]

Cat you beat me to it!

 

I would also suggest writing letters to newspaper editors.

 

I've already emailed the PM, and a number of MP's.

[Guest C*****tte]

Thank you Cat for posting this. I think all clients should show their support in this way. Obviously, I know you cannot come out as a client (well, most cannot), but as a voter you have a voice. As a constituent you have a voice.

 

I am going to write my letters this week. Emails too.

[Lowdark 5613]

Berlin has a very good point about newspapers. The public is very uninformed about most issues and this is no different. Opponents of change will cater to public ignorance and capitalize on the absence of information and knowledge. The media will be very instrumental in this, especially outside of the CBC (which is poorly viewed by the average Canadian). It will be very interesting to see how SUN media treats this. They'll probably dismiss it as a moral outrage perpetrated by cultural and itellectual "elites" (and sell a large chunk of their classified ad space to SPs, MAs and adult entertainment). We should all keep an eye on the media over the next few days.

[Guest s******ecan****]

The best advice I can give everyone is just don't vote PC in the next federal election. They're not going to address this issue now because they don't have the votes to bring in what they want (a law that makes prostitution completley illegal) since the NDP, Bloc, and at least some Liberals won't support it.

 

but......if they get a majority next time around a very harsh law will be the end result and it will be forced on us regardless of the opposition.

[cat 262460]

This issue is not Conservative or Liberal. The laws in place were left there by the Liberals for over 2 decades so their track record isn't any better. The key is to let the powers that be realize that it's time to move Canada to where it should be and that we are willing to raise our concerns and tell them it is time for change.

 

Old Dog is right, the PMO watch the public comment boards as closely as they do the pollsters. Go to the CBC, CTV, Global and CITYTV websites, participate and voice your opinions. It counts. I know this for a fact, have seen it in action. We must use every means available to bring it to their attention that it is time for them to take our industry seriously and deal with the challenges at hand.

 

As Charlotte said, you do not have to admit to being a client or an SP, but you can contact them directly to let them know this ruling should not be overturned and new legislation is needed to ensure the safety and well being of our industry and our society.

 

cat

[Guest S***e]

I'm not going to trash or support any political party on this issue or any other simply because they change their positions with the wind on a daily basis. I am hopeful this ruling will be a step towards a positive change in legislation that will first and foremost offer some degree to protection to those in the profession, yet all the laws in the world cannot guarantee one's safety. I'm all for legislation prohibiting human trafficking/smuggling/expoitation and I'm all for legislation that respects that which transpires in private between two consenting adults. We can voice our concerns accordingly and I will do so as suggested above.

[PistolPete 61421]

but as a voter you have a voice. As a constituent you have a voice.

 

This statement RIGHT here could not be any more clear,so make sure your voice is heard.

[Capital Hunter 18263]

The best advice I can give everyone is just don't vote PC in the next federal election. They're not going to address this issue now because they don't have the votes to bring in what they want (a law that makes prostitution completley illegal) since the NDP, Bloc, and at least some Liberals won't support it.

 

but......if they get a majority next time around a very harsh law will be the end result and it will be forced on us regardless of the opposition.

 

Very well said Scott.

[Guest Ou**or**n]

From my understanding the next major event will be whether the judge agrees to extend the 30 day stay on her decision.

 

If the stay is extended then things will die down as the appeals continue. I imagine this will be a very long process. I expect however that in the end some or all of the current laws will be scrapped as the legal reasoning in the judges decision is very clear and decisive. However any government will put off dealing with controversial issues so I think they will basically deal with when the final appeals are over.

 

However if the judge declines extending the stay then things will get really interesting. The genie will have gotten out of the bottle so to speak and governments will have to react in some way. The minority status of the federal government means we won't likely see any law passed right away. I agree with a previous poster that said the conservatives would turn into yet another 'wedge' issue. However while that is happening it will be interesting to see what happens.

 

Will there be a sudden surge in street-level prostitution? If so will police use the existing laws to stop it from being a public nuisance? Will there be a surge of brothels? I doubt we'd see anyone opening a large scale brothel given the uncertain legal climate however I could see some rub and tugs becoming more open and even expanding their list of services.

 

I think a year or two with no laws would be great as once these types of laws are thrown out by the courts it is very hard for governments to re-legislate once a certain amount of time has passed. Think of most of the history of womens rights, abortion and same-sex marriages.

 

I am truly interested in seeing what the judge will do. From her wording I think she will need a fair amount of valid legal convincing to extend the stay. She seems to be very much on the side that women are being hurt every day the current laws stay in effect.

[Suzirider 737]

Add this to your emails.

 

"there's no place for the state in the bedrooms of the

 

nation" and "what's done in private between adults

 

doesn't concern the Criminal Code" - Minister of Justice Pierre Trudeau

[Guest S***e]

On last night's news, it was reported the Feds will appeal the ruling which comes as no surprise to me. Ottawa Police Chief White on CJOH (short soundbite) expressed his concerns over the ruling and described prostitutes as "drug and disease infested street walkers" etc. Clearly, his intention is to further alienate those in the sex trade industry from the rest of society and to add fuel towards tougher anti-prostitution related legislation particularly as it pertains to street level activities. Then, you will always have those who feel that the law needs to enforce morality. I guess we'll have to wait and see what happens with the appeal process and go from there, but there's no doubt in my mind that a strong lobby in favour of reasonable and balanced legislation that protects those in the industry and protects people from being victimized by human trafficking/exploitation etc., can hopefully be achieved while staying clear of peoples' bedrooms.

[Guest C*****tte]

I am thinking this chief of police sees prostitutes through a very specific lens and clearly without any empathy - often women and men working the streets are those most disadvantaged and at risk for violence. Sigh.

 

Though upon reflection I had an insight. Most escorts are doing their job well if people don't know much about them - in that we are discrete. A shame though because this discretion means no one on the 'outside' knows who we are - professional business women. Perhaps a little flamboyant in private but professional nonetheless. ;-)

[Guest S***e]

I agree Charlotte and I was somewhat taken back by his comments especially in light of the now well publicized postion adopted by the Vancouver Police Dept in dealing with the missing woman from Vancouver's downtown east side in the 80's and 90's. "Just a bunch of junky, disease-ridden hookers" going missing from the streets of Vancouver was the prevailing thought by the VPD at the time which was clearly WRONG! Not much empathy on White's part whatsoever and he paid no mind or attention to other aspects of the sex trade. Much of their resources are in the area of street level prostitution and as you point out no mention of discrete, safe, healthy professional women such as those ladies here in CERB.

 

I am thinking this chief of police sees prostitutes through a very specific lens and clearly without any empathy - often women and men working the streets are those most disadvantaged and at risk for violence. Sigh.

 

Though upon reflection I had an insight. Most escorts are doing their job well if people don't know much about them - in that we are discrete. A shame though because this discretion means no one on the 'outside' knows who we are - professional business women. Perhaps a little flamboyant in private but professional nonetheless. ;-)

[Phaedrus 209521]

From my understanding the next major event will be whether the judge agrees to extend the 30 day stay on her decision.

But if she doesn't, the Gov't will presumably appeal that too, no?

 

I hate to be pessimistic, but I really can't believe anything will change in practice until this has gone through the entire appeals process. And even then, as someone else noted, this ruling is based on the fact that prostitution is itself legal... which could be changed.

[thompo69 198]

But if she doesn't, the Gov't will presumably appeal that too, no?

 

I hate to be pessimistic, but I really can't believe anything will change in practice until this has gone through the entire appeals process. And even then, as someone else noted, this ruling is based on the fact that prostitution is itself legal... which could be changed.

 

The question of an indefinite stay is not up to the judge who made the original ruling, but to the Court of Appeal that it is being appealed to. Frankly, I would be shocked if the indefinite stay were not granted.

[Guest C*****tte]

Sex columnist Sasha wrote up a response to the recent court ruling and her column includes links to excellent pieces on the various issues people are bringing up. Its going to be my go-to article when I need information either for myself if someone has questions.

 

http://www.montrealmirror.com/wp/?p=14534