The premier of Canada’s most populous province of Ontario, Kathleen Wynne, has voiced her concern about whether new federal legislation will make sex workers in Canada safer.
In a statement released Sunday (December 7) Premier Wynne said: “I am not an expert, and I am not a lawyer, but as premier of this province, I am concerned that this legislation (now the law of the land) will not make sex workers safer.”
Because of her concerns, the premier is calling on the province’s Attorney General Madeleine Meilleur to look at the “constitutional validity” of the law.
The Toronto Star newspaper reports that “an emailed statement from federal Justice Minister Peter MacKay’s office said the Conservative government recognizes that prostitution is driven by the buyers of sex, which is why the law targets johns and pimps.”
Critics of the new law disagree, and say it will say it will make it harder for sex workers by limiting the possibility for them to speak with and screen potential clients.
More information:
Toronto Star – Kathleen Wynne asks attorney general to review Canada’s new prostitution law – here
CTV News – Ontario premier concerned about constitutionality of new prostitution law – here
Globe and Mail – Wynne questions if federal prostitution law respects Charter rights – here
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