The Buying Sex is a Crime campaign is supported by a wide cross-section of groups from across the country that are united in our desire to see an end to sexual exploitation in Canada.
Buying sex, or attempting to buy sex, is illegal in Canada.
In 2014, Canada passed the Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act, which declared that the purchase or attempted purchase of sex was illegal – wherever, and whenever it occurs. This shift is significant, because the demand for paid sex is what funnels women into prostitution and fuels sex trafficking.
The preamble of the bill recognized that prostitution is inherently dangerous and exploitive, that objectification of the human body and commodification of sexuality causes social harm, and that prostitution violates human dignity and equality between the sexes. It also recognizes coercive elements like poverty, addiction, colonization, mental illness and racialization as a few key contributing factors to individuals entering prostitution or being vulnerable to exploitation.
Ending exploitation means turning the focus away from those who are prostituted and exploited and onto the demand for paid sex, which is the root cause of sexual exploitation and human trafficking.
This approach has been proven effective in countries such as Norway, Sweden and Iceland, and has been adopted in recent years by several other countries.
It is critical that the federal government maintain and encourage enforcement of the current laws in order to ensure that Canada has a real chance of being a global leader in ending this type of exploitation.
Our federal government has stated its commitment to working towards gender equality in Parliament and in the day to day reality of average Canadians. They have committed to addressing violence against women and girls.
Upholding the Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act is a vital step toward achieving that equality and creating real safety for all peoples.
Media Inquiries
Vancouver:
Trisha Baptie – [email protected] (Exploited Voices Now Educating)
Mary-Lee Bouma – [email protected] (Resist Exploitation Embrace Dignity)
Edmonton
Sue Holtby – [email protected] (Defend Dignity)
Calgary Cliff Wiebe – [email protected] (Next Step Ministries)
Katelynn Robertson – [email protected] (Defend Dignity)
Saskatoon
Albert Brown – [email protected] Salvation Army John
School
Tyrone McKenzie – [email protected] (Defend Dignity)
Regina
Arlene Stinson – [email protected] (Freedom Catalyst)
Julia Ellergodt – [email protected] (Defend Dignity)
Winnipeg
Diane Redsky – [email protected] (Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre)
Joy Smith – [email protected] (Joy Smith Foundation)
Cambridge
Laura Ross – [email protected] (Beacon of Hope)
Brampton
Katarina MacLeod – [email protected] (Rising Angels)
Newmarket
Casandra Diamond – [email protected] (BridgeNorth Women’s Mentoring and Advocacy Services)
Debbie Pond – [email protected] (u-r home)
Toronto
Glendyne Gerrard – [email protected] (Defend Dignity)
Casandra Diamond – [email protected] (BridgeNorth Women’s Mentoring and Advocacy Services)
Montreal
Glendyne Gerrard – [email protected] (Defend Dignity)
Moncton
Glendyne Gerrard – [email protected] (Defend Dignity)
Debbie Pond – [email protected] (u-r home)