Concerns remain over prostitution law despite constitutionality: Wynne

TORONTO – Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne says her government’s review of Canada’s new prostitution law may have found it to be constitutional, but it hasn’t “entirely” alleviated her concerns about the law.

After the federal law came into effect in December, the premier said she had a “grave concern” that it would not make sex workers safer and asked the attorney general to do a constitutional review.

READ MORE: Ontario will uphold new prostitution law after review finds it constitutional

Wynne said earlier this month that the review concluded there was “no clear unconstitutionality,” but the attorney general would not divulge her staff’s reasoning.

When asked today to elaborate, Wynne said the review did “not entirely” alleviate her concerns about it and Ontario will be monitoring its impacts.

She says she understands Ontario must uphold the law, but at the same time the province will keep an eye on it and meet with affected groups of people to hear their concerns.

The sweeping new changes to the way prostitution is regulated in Canada follow a decision that found the old laws violated the rights of sex-trade workers.