REGINA – It may not be evident on every street corner, but the oldest profession is certainly still practiced in Regina.
“I think in years past one could have pointed to certain geographic areas and say you could see more sex trade workers, but the Internet and communications electronically has changed a lot of things,” explained Elizabeth Popowich with the Regina Police Service.
Prostitution is an issue many people would rather not talk about, but has been something of a hot topic since new federal laws for sex workers were unveiled December 6th.
Bill C-36 criminalizes the purchase of sex, but not its sale.
The laws ban advertising sexual services and crack down on pimps, aiming to protect sex workers.
However, the head of the department of justice at the University of Regina has experience aiding sex workers on the front lines and argues the new legislation will ultimately drive the industry underground.
“The more difficult it is, the more underground it’s going to be. The more underground it’s going to be, the more likely women are going to take risks,” explained Hirsch Greenberg. “The more risks they take the more likely harm is going to come to them.”
Last December, Canada’s Supreme Court found the previous laws were unconstitutional and gave the government one year to draft new legislation.
Popowich said it’s too soon to tell exactly how the new laws will be enforced by local law enforcement.
“It’s not just the flip of the switch and we’re awaiting the instruction of the ministry of justice,” she explained.
Regina police essentially stopped laying charges following the ruling last year, which explains the 32 per cent drop of prostitution charges between midyear 2013 to midyear 2014.
The federal government’s hope was the new laws would reduce prostitution, but Greenberg believes B-C36 will hinder developing a truly safe solution for sex workers.
“It’s treating it as a moral issue, rather than as an issue that addresses the women that are involved.”
Comments