STATEMENT BY JUSTICE MINISTER ROB NICHOLSON FOLLOWING THE ONTARIO COURT OF APPEAL STAY DECISION ON THE BEDFORD PROSTITUTION CHALLENGE

OTTAWA, December 2, 2010 – The Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Niagara Falls, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, made the following statement today following the Ontario Court of Appeal’s decision to stay the Ontario Superior Court’s decision on the Bedford Prostitution Challenge until final disposition of the appeal.

“The Government is pleased that the Ontario Court of Appeal has stayed the lower court’s decision.

“This means that the challenged Criminal Code provisions remain in effect until April 29, 2011, or until the appeal is heard by the Ontario Court of Appeal, whichever is the earlier.

“It is the position of the Government of Canada that these provisions are constitutionally sound. 

“The provisions denounce and deter the most harmful and public aspects of prostitution.  They also ensure that the police have the tools necessary to continue to address the significant harms that flow from prostitution, both to communities and to the prostitutes themselves, along with other vulnerable persons.

“The Government of Canada is committed to the health and safety of all Canadians and the well-being of the country’s communities and will continue to defend the constitutionality of these Criminal Code provisions.”

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Ref.:

• Pamela Stephens
  Press Secretary
  Office of the Minister of Justice
  613-992-4621

• Media Relations
  Department of Justice
  613-957-4207