Province to crack down on johns
Posted Feb 4, 2014 5:33 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Alberta’s prosecutors are being told it’s not in the public interest to take prostitutes to court, but the Crown should continue to hold johns accountable.
The directive comes from the office of Justice Minister, Jonathan Denis.
A Supreme Court of Canada decision in December found certain prostitutions related sections of the criminal code unconstitutional and existing laws are set to expire in December of this year.
Denis says Alberta prosecutors will target the people doing the victimizing in sex trafficking.
“Police and Crown have not been charging prostitutes themselves, they’re going after the people who operate a common bawdy house or people who seek to purchase sex on our streets,” said Denis.
Denis adds they’ve taken a lot of time since the Supreme Court decision to make sure they are doing their best to protect people who become involved in the sex trade and the public as a whole.
He says they look forward to the federal government bringing in a new law with consultation from all the provinces.
