Letter to Suzanne Anton, Minister of Justice

Sign and date the letter below to urge Minister of Justice Suzanne Anton to call all the municipalities to implement and enforce the new legislation.  Let’s hold sex buyers and others who benefit from sex exploitation accountable.

Honourable Suzanne Anton, MLA

Minister of Justice

Room 22

Parliament Buildings

Victoria, BC V8V 1X4

Dear Minister Anton:

On December 6, 2014, the government of Canada enacted the Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act (known as Bill C-36), which holds the buyers of sex accountable, as well as any third party who benefits from commercial sexual exploitation. With this legislation, Canada joined a third party who benefits from commercial sexual exploitation. With this legislation, Canada joined a number of countries that have already enacted similar legislation (Sweden, Iceland, Norway, Ireland) and a growing number of other countries currently deliberating demand-focused legislation that will make the buying of sexual services illegal: France, Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Israel.

Some Canadian provinces and municipalities have stepped forward, using the powers and resources under their jurisdiction to put an end to sex trafficking in Canada. On January 21, 2015, Hamilton police laid charges under this new prostitution law. (Hamilton News, Hamilton, Ontario; January 21,2-15; Shioina Thompson, Hamilton Police Law Charges under New Prostitution Law)

Unfortunately, some other jurisdiction and organizations, including the Vancouver Police Department, the Victoria Police Department, Georgia Straight, and some libraries, have voiced their non-compliance with this new law (Globe and Mail, Vancouver, BC, December 5, 2014, Wanyee Li, Vancouver Police to Prioritize Safety Over Anti-Prostitution Laws; Georgia Straight, Vancouver, BC, November 26, 2014, Carlito Pablo, Canada’s New Prostitution Law Won’t Change Policing Priorities in Vancouver; The Province, Victoria, BC, December 9, 2014, Sarah Pretrescu, New federal prostitution law have Victoria sex trade workers on edge).

We urge you, as Attorney General of BC in charge of the Criminal Justice Branch, to assure the citizens of BC that this law will be implemented and enforced in our province. It is only when all levels of government at the federal, provincial and municipal levels collaborate and work together that the lives of hundreds of women, youth and children will receive the protection that they deserve. We count on you to continue the efforts of many in Canada to strengthen our comprehensive strategy to end sex trafficking in Canada.

Sincerely,