Prostitution laws struck down by Ontario court

[Brihard]

Originally Posted by rb.

...or dumped just outside the city limits of Winnipeg.

Bri...fed code, but can it be challenged in EACH province's courts?

rb- that's how our system works. Note that the provincial superior courts in all provinces are analogous to each other and fulfil the same roles. While they will also rule on the laws of their respective provinces, they are also the court responsible for trying criminal cases.

At the federal level the only court that would be in line to hear this appeal is the Supreme Court. Obviously that would put a huge burden on the SCC, including many cases that simply don't merit attention at that level. We have the provincial Superior Courts of Justice and the provincial Courts of Appeal to fill that role.

There's nothing unusual or wrong about the arrangement of our court system... It's a logical breakdown to put the appropriate courts in the appropriate places, and to avoid duplication of effort, jurisdiction or mandate.



Summary criminal offences are tried in the Provincial Courts, indictable ones in the provincial Superior Courts. Superior courts can also review decisions form the 'inferior' provincial courts and are the first venue of appeal for those courts. Anything appealed from provincial Superior Court goes to the provincial court of appeal (at this point the issues discussed are not the facts of the case, but the application of law) and then anything appealed form that level may go to the Supreme Court if they decide to hear it.

Across Canada, a decision rendered in one level of court on a law that applies nationally is binding in similar cases across all courts of that level nationally. It's typical application of common law.

[Brihard]

Originally Posted by Arianwen

Probably a lot of whores are driven to that line of work via drug addiction etc, but I'd say not all of them, it IS the oldest profession on earth. By having prostitution illegal, the women providing that service risk getting lengthy criminal records/prison time and cut into little pieces and dead-i-fied, not to mention spreading HIV/Hep C/God knows what.

According to a presentation our class was given by the Ottawa street crimes unit, approximately 90% or more of prostitution is done to support someone's drug habit.

[rb.]

Originally Posted by Arianwen

Women brainwashed by rich, white, fat old republican men are opposed to women's rights, in my experience.

You are doing exactly what you claim the "rich, white, fat old republican (??) men" are doing...discounting women. And when's the last time you met a republican Canadian? Just because someone's opinion does not match your own does not mean someone has brainwashed them.

[rb.]

Thanks, Bri. It's been a very long time since that Gr. 10 History class.

[Brihard]

Originally Posted by rb.

You are doing exactly what you claim the "rich, white, fat old republican (??) men" are doing...discounting women. And when's the last time you met a republican Canadian? Just because someone's opinion does not match your own does not mean someone has brainwashed them.

Agreed. Someone can be very morally opposed to abortion and yet otherwise completely supportive of womens' rights.

[CanadaSue]

Popular media sometimes tries to whitewash prostitution. Girls are portrayed as 'paying their way through college' or somehow advancing themselves through prostitution. In my reality, in my community, it's not the case. Plenty of prostitutes in my area & they're all supporting drug habits. Or, they leave home young & find it's the only way they can get money - for most, the drugs follow.

It's hardly an empowering profession.

[rb.]

Originally Posted by Brihard

Someone can be very morally opposed to abortion and yet otherwise completely supportive of womens' rights.

Yep. I don't believe I could have an abortion, but still believe in the right for each to choose.

Sue, IIRC, I've read (studies?) that the vast majority of prostitutes were sexually or physcially abused as kids. To me that sounds like, especially if they got into it as teens, they are not making healthy, informed decisions.

Do some do it just for the lure of the good money? I'm sure some do. I have a cousin who was only high school educated, worked as a bartender in a strip bar, and ended up dancing there. She had to get herself good and drunk to do it every night, but the money was just too good. She sure wasn't proud of herself, though. Coming from a double alcoholic family, with a lot of mental illness, Mom and Dad were quite accepting, as they were the recipients of lots of goodies...new carpet throughout the house, etc. And Mom used to do it when Dad drank, beat her, and left her no money to feed four kids.

just sayin'/