N.B.'s relaxed approach to prostitution challenged by Moncton

[Meaghan McLeod 179664]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/n-b-s-relaxed-approach-to-prostitution-challenged-by-moncton-1.2516636

 

Moncton city councillors want to know why New Brunswick is relaxing the rules on prostitution.

The province is the only one in the Maritimes where Crown prosecutors are no longer pursuing cases against prostitutes and their customers, or `Johns.'

The Supreme Court of Canada struck down Canada's prostitution laws on Dec. 20 and gave the federal government one year to draft new legislation.

 

New Brunswick's justice department says the change is a result of the Supreme Court of Canada striking down the prostitution laws in a decision released Dec. 20.

In its decision, the Supreme Court delayed the effects of its ruling for a year, giving the federal government an opportunity to draft a new law.

The justice departments in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island say they are taking advantage of the one-year grace period and still pursing prostitution changes.

Coun. Charles Leger questions why New Brunswick is taking an approach that's different from the other Maritime provinces.

Do you agree with New Brunswick's decision to relax enforcement of prostitution cases?

 

 

 

Yes, this makes sense given the Supreme Court of Canada's recent ruling to strike down the existing law.

No, enforcement should continues to give government time to rewrite the law

 

VoteView Results

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"If other jurisdictions are all maintaining the status quo, then I wonder why New Brunswick has decided to go in a different direction," said Leger.

Coun. Shawn Crossman also wants to know what's going on.

"That's unacceptable in my mind," he said. "As the father of a 13-year-old daughter, I mean that is truly unacceptable, to know that our province has taken that mentality."

Crossman wants to know how the province expects the police and the municipality to deal with street prostitution.

In a letter earlier this week, federal Justice Minister and Attorney General Peter Mackay said the existing prostitution laws should still be enforced.

"Make no mistake, doing nothing is not an option," said Mackay.

[fortunateone 156618]

But it is most definitely not the only city in the maritimes with this new policy, is it? Isn't there is an almost exactly the same story from Newfoundland?

 

 

 

 

i can see their biggest concern at the end of the article: what about the street workers?