[LINK] "Prostitution bill would make it illegal to buy, sell sex in public"

[rfmcdonald]

CBC's Susana Mas reports on the very controversial new legislation regarding prostitution recently proposed by the federal government. Multiple people and groups concerned with sex trade workers have said this could well face another court challenge, while the ban on advertising would be another major issue.

The federal government says its proposed prostitution legislation will crack down on pimps and johns, but advocates for sex-trade workers say it will criminalize prostitution and land sex workers in jail.

Bill C-36, dubbed the protection of communities and exploited persons act, would make it illegal to sell sexual services in public spaces where persons under the age of 18 could be present. Offenders could face a maximum of five years in prison.

"Today our government is making prostitution illegal for the first time," Justice Minister Peter MacKay said in a written statement on Wednesday.

"We are criminalizing the purchase of sexual services and in very specific instances the sale … in areas where young people under the age of 18 could be present," MacKay said during a news conference after the bill was tabled in the House of Commons.