Saultites should not expect any brothels in their home town real soon, says City Police Chief Bob Davies. Dialogue and debate are integral to a free society and we welcome and encourage you to share your views on the issues of the day. We ask that you be respectful of others and their points of view, refrain from personal attacks and stay on topic. At a meeting Thursday afternoon he briefed members of the Police Services Board on the local ramifications of Tuesday's decision by Ontario Superior Court of Justice to strike down part of the section of the Criminal Code of Canada that deals with prostitution.
Davies said the police don't know of any brothels operating in the city and he doubts any will start up soon. The Ontario Superior Court of Justice, the Province's highest court, ruled that the part of section of the Criminal Code of Canada that says it is illegal to operate a common bawdy house, or brothel, is offensive to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, should be struck from the Code and that section be rewritten by the Parliament of Canada.
In 30 days, if the ruling stands and the effect is not suspended longer, charges will be laid only against anyone who lives off the avails in circumstances of exploitation, not against anyone living off the avails of prostitution. Until Justice Himel's ruling comes into effect, there are legal prohibitions against keeping a common bawdy house, communicating for the purposes of prostitution and living on the avails of the trade, but not against prostitution.
Davies said, if and when Himel's ruling takes effect, people will be able to apply to the City to obtain a license to operate a brothel or bawdy house. Local police are still seeing some streetwalker activity in the Albert Street and downtown area, Davies said, with some sporadic incidents of complaints from residents in the area. The laws against solicitation for the purposes of prostitution are still in effect, he said, and Justice Himel's ruling doesn't propose to change them so police will continue to monitor the situation and lay charges as required.
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