A bit of good news for the girls of this community!

[toban]

Just a few minutes ago the Supreme Court of Canada upheld the right of a non-profit group representing women and transgender women in downtown Vancouver's sex trade to challenge the country's anti-prostitution laws on constitutional grounds.

Their suit takes aim at a broad range of provisions in Canada's anti-prostitution law, including prohibitions on keeping a bawdy house, living off the avails of prostitution and communicating in a public place for the purposes of prostitution.

There is a very similar on-going case pending an appeal to the Supreme Court following a negative decision by the Ontario Court of Appeal. Hopefully one of these two will succed and end the stupidity of the current law!

[Rockheart]

We love our politics and Red Tape in Canada.
Support groups, movements, non profit corporations, appeals, bureaucracy, it goes on and on.
Solidarity and touchy feely...
It all adds up to tax dollars for me, I hate that part about it.

I know this is an issue, however this stuff also brings people together.
The dynamics of sex workers is entirely different because of it.
Some involved in the movement get more out of life than if this problem never existed.
They come out more aware of the legal and business world, making new contacts and opportunities for themselves they wouldn't normally have. So even if you have an ideal situation in life, you should volunteer for something to make a difference.
You may open your eyes and see something new.
This part of my use of tax dollars is a bonus for me at least.

These are reasons I like Thailand more and more.
Everything is not over regulated and people do what makes sense.

If you want to be a sex worker in Bangkok, just do it.
If you don't like it, don't go to where they are.
Really simple, just like their driving.
Don't run into anyone else is how you drive there.
In Canada we all worry about what other people are doing and don't think about ourselves.
Pure chaos here (While people may thing the opposite, Asian drivers are better)

Anyway this may be great for some but the concepts they are fighting for are outdated to an extent.
There is not much reason for common bawdy houses anymore, a swing club basically can fullfill all your needs in this regards.
Clubs in Toronto have proven they can get around this.

Opening up the living off the avails of prostitution is a mixed blessing.
Support people for escorts, like drivers and escort managers may breathe easier,
however it opens up the door for legal abuse by pimps and users, which is really the intent of the law.

Also today independent escorts are left alone to an extent.
If they are not cruising the streets, get their proper licenses and are not operating a whore house, they are really ok.
Now you open all up to full taxation and scrutinization of their business.
There will be no more tax free income or gifts as today.
Especially if the industry starts demanding UI, CPP and heath benefits, tax and fees must be collected.
Imagine and escort making 50% less because of this.

So I think this is a mixed bag.
There could be more freedom and acceptance for sex workers.
Plus just the movement has provided solidarity, learning and comradeship for the participants.
But higher taxation and less freedom to operate as before.

Like Marijuana, we waste too much money trying to control it as an illegal substance.
However if it was legalized my income tax may go down but weed would probably cost more through other taxation.
Plus it may restrict my freedom to use weed.

I can easily see an escort tax in the future as it is could be considered dangerous health wise and it is also a vice.
They love to tax vices.