City of Calgary looking for citizen feedback on impacts related to prostitution

Calgary, AB – The City is conducting a public submissions process to help better understand the perceived impacts that prostitution and prostitution-related activities has on our city.

In December 2013, the Supreme Court of Canada found three Criminal Code offences related to prostitution to be unconstitutional, opening the door to new federal legislation on prostitution. In February, Council approved a Notice of Motion to conduct engagement of external stakeholders through a public submissions process.

“This process is part of a multi-faceted approach to help us develop a response to potential changes around prostitution and prostitution-related activities,” says Tracy Bertsch, Director of Animal & Bylaw Services and Chair of The City of Calgary Steering Committee on Prostitution. “We are taking a look at the issue from a grassroots level by seeking to understand and identify these impacts.”

While prostitution is legal in Canada, most activities related to prostitution are illegal including operating a public bawdy-house, living on money earned from prostitution and communicating for the purpose of prostitution in public. The Supreme Court of Canada found that by making these activities illegal, the rights of prostitutes are being violated because it creates a risk to their safety.

“Laws related to prostitution are the responsibility of the federal government,” says Bertsch. “Although we do not yet know what decision the federal government will make, The City of Calgary will be prepared with a framework that addresses potential legislative, regulatory, social, environmental and economic issues stemming from the ruling.”

As directed by Calgary City Council, a multi-departmental City working group is reviewing relevant enforcement approaches in other jurisdictions and any planned responses from other levels of government to provide a comprehensive framework back to Council by December 2014. The feedback from the anonymous online questionnaire will be included in that framework.

Those wishing to participate in this public submission process can access the questionnaire on Calgary.ca before end of day May 16, 2014.

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