Jun 25, 2012 – 8:30 AM ET | Last Updated: Jun 23, 2012 6:47 PM ET
Last week letters editor Paul Russell asked readers for suggestions to deal with prostitution.
Just ban it
– Canada should ban prostitution as legalizing it would mean legitimizing the objectification and degradation of women. Programs should also be put into place assisting those women who have already fallen into the trap of prostitution so that they can recover and live the kind of fulfilling life that every woman is entitled to.
Tahira M. Tahir, Delta, B.C.
– Most of us would never allow our sisters, mothers and daughters to become prostitutes, or we would help them find a way out if they were. Likewise, we should view prostitutes as someone’s sisters, daughters and maybe even mothers. We should ban prostitution and help women involved in the trade find other livelihoods.
Mohsina Islam, Brampton, Ont.
– The sixth commandment states: “You shall not commit adultery.” Prostitution breaks this commandment. Ergo, ban it.
Ricardo Di Cecca, Burlington, Ont.
– Ban it. Prostitution is moral degradation, pure and simple, and government legalization/regulation would be state sanctioning of a moral evil. For every alleged “Happy Hooker” there are tens of thousands forced into the practice by poverty and ignorance. Arrest all prostitutes and “johns,” and then concentrate government resources on rehabilitating these women.
Lars Troide, Apple Hill, Ont.
– Female emancipation can only occur when a woman believes she is worth the same as a man. By working as a prostitute and serving the most basic and bestial desires of a man she degrades herself, regardless of whether it is a legal or illegal activity. We should work towards breaking the cycle of despair, poverty and exploitation that leaves women with limited choices.
Maidah Ahmad, Barrie, Ont.
– Legalizing prostitution will set a chain reaction which will destroy the institution of marriage, society and ultimately the whole civilization. By giving prostitution a dignified name of “work”, the state will only promote the idea of selling one’s body like a product. By making it legal we will be leaving the gifts of morally decayed society, emotionally scarred women and diseases like HIV/AIDS and STDs for our coming generations.
Naila Jamil, Toronto.
– Prostitution should be banned. It’s as simple as that. We need to castigate and condemn prostitution for what it is, an an ugly form of exploitation of women. Everyone in his/her own sphere of influence should do something to eradicate it and the government should be the first one to take this step. It’s time we stand up for such women and their rights.
Tahira Saliha, Toronto.
Legalize, regulate then tax it
– Make prostitution legal. Let the prostitutes themselves draft the rules, incarcerate the pimps who are low life. Enable prostitutes to lead a safe, healthy lifestyle. Don’t forget the tax benefits for the country.
W. Stewart, Grande Prairie, Alta.
– We would not be the first country in the world to legalize prostitution. I lived in Melbourne, Australia for months before I became aware that there were legal brothels in the city, and this was 20 years ago. Let’s look at their experience, adopt what works and change what doesn’t.
Thomas Calvert, Oakville, Ont.
– In Montreal during the 1976 Olympics it’s said there existed in the downtown area at least two apartment building-sized brothels allegedly condoned by the police, to provide multinational services for visitors. Each building had medical clinics, strict rules and strict security. There were a huge success. It’s time to acknowledge there are many valid reasons for the existence of brothels for use by men and women, that can be licensed and regulated.
John Dawe, Toronto.
– Legalize and heavily regulate the industry to guarantee the safety of those who do want to do sex work. Ignore the moralizers who prefer to ban the symptom (prostitution) rather than fix the cause (poverty and sexism).
Alex Sobolewski, Hamilton, Ont.
– Like other vices that can be dangerous and offend morals (drinking, smoking, gambling), prostitution has greater harms when it is prohibited. Just because you allow something, does not mean that you endorse it. Prostitution and the surrounding activities should be legalized, for pragmatic reasons. Of course, municipalities could regulate it.
Zach Martin, Toronto
– Canada’s justice system has spent millions of dollars and countless hours enforcing our prostitution laws, and yet prostitution remains as strong as ever. We should legalize prostitution, with practictioners licensed and required to undergo regular health inspections. Prostitution could become a tax generator, instead of a tax liability.
Jeff Spooner, Kinburn, Ont.
– Let the government tax and regulate prostitution. After 10 or 15 tax increases, no one will be able to afford prostitutes. Problem solved.
John Purdy, Kirkland, Que.
– It’s time to decriminalize and regulate the world’s second oldest profession. Rip-off artists in suits who slyly ask us to “lie back and think of England” while they have their wicked way with the public trough are much more deserving of our scorn and contempt than those who are up front about the price of a sexual act between consenting adults.
Susan Borden, St. Thomas, Ont.
– Legalize, license, regulate and tax. Time for Canada to grow up and once we find that the world as we know it is not ending perhaps we could turn our attention to legalizing pot.
Michael Butler, Victoria.
– Since prostitution will never be eliminated and it’s transacted in more places than just skid rows, why not treat it like any other business? Regulating and taxing it could free up resources to combat real crimes like human trafficking and the forcing or luring of teens into the business.
Jim Corder, Nanaimo, B.C.
– Prostitution is a “service-oriented” enterprise and the income should be taxed. Every prostitute must have a health certificate to show the client. Issued by town hall, printed, numbered invoices are to be filled out with client’s debit/credit card number. Every month s/he delivers the required tax to town hall and gets an updated health certificate.
Olga Pitcairn, New Hope, Penn.
– Ban prostitution? Nonsense. That would worsen the issue as johns and willing partners continue to participate in the world’s oldest profession. Selling sexual services is legal; soliciting, pimping and brothels are not. Taxation, a disagreeable option, may only be possible if the “game” is regulated or licensed. Let’s look to Europe for guidance.
Malcolm Bell, Lions Bay, B.C.
– When gambling and alcohol were controlled by gangsters the result was crime, corruption and grief on a massive scale. It took years for society to wise-up and legalize them. Surely, we’ve had enough crime, corruption and grief connected to prostitution and illicit street-drugs, especially marijuana, to leave them in the hands of pimps and drug-pushers. It’s long past the time both were legalized.
William Bedford, Toronto.
Look to Sweden
– In 1999, Sweden decriminalized the sale of sex, but made it an offence to pimp or buy sex. Under Sweden’s so-called “Sex Purchase Law,” buying sex is punishable by fines or up to six months imprisonment, plus the humiliation of public exposure. This has resulted in a 40% decrease in the number of prostitutes and human trafficking rings tend to avoid Sweden. Let’s consider the Swedish model.
Rizwan Syed, Maple, Ont.
– We should follow Sweden’s lead. It doesn’t imprison prostitutes but gives them help with overcoming addictions, with education, housing, counselling, etc. However, they deal harshly with johns and pimps.
R.J. Sidney, British Columbia.
– Drawing a parallel, if we applied the present prostitution laws to the case of drug-dealing, we’d be throwing the drugs in jail, instead of the buyers and sellers. Sweden’s approach seems to be the best solution: targeting the real criminals (demanders and suppliers) instead of the women. Let’s offer an exit strategy that includes drug rehab for the women and job retraining.
Jack Campbell, Calgary.
– The question is not what we should do about prostitutes; rather, the question is what should be done about the johns. Most will agree that prostitution is a miserable job to which few happily aspire and that society would be better without it. Arrest, fine, and jail johns as abusers of the vulnerable. Eradicate the demand and the supply will wane. And then help the prostitutes left without their customers.
George van Popta, Ottawa.
Red light areas have a purpose
– An area should be designated as a red light district where prostitutes can entertain male clients. There will be a police station nearby in case violence is reported against these women. X-rated cinemas can be built here for people who seek to fulfill their prurient desires. Sex with prostitutes will be legal here but they will be monitored.
Alex Sotto, Montreal
– Like death, taxes and marijuana, prostitution will always be with us. License the sex-trade workers in the same way that many cities already issue burlesque entertainer licenses, and continue to prosecute those exercising control and/or living off their avails. At the street level, certain areas will become characterized as red light districts as a matter of course, through the adaptive process.
S.W. Lussing, Catholic Charities Men’s Services Mission, Vancouver.
– Prostitution should be legalized, possibly regulated, definitely taxed and maybe even licensed. Canada and Toronto could follow the path of the Dutch and Germans and designate red light districts, thereby decreasing crime and making it safer for both the working woman and the john. The tax revenues alone would probably pay off our debt in a few years, and the red light district, if done properly as in Amsterdam, would be quite the tourist attraction, especially for horny Americans.
Tommy Lee, Toronto.
Give prostitutes real job prospects
– Banning prostitution will not eradicate this problem, rather we should focus on its root cause.
Most times prostitutes are lured into this horrid practice due to poverty and being unable to find work. Dealing with each case individually help should be provided, to get them out of this trap. They should be helped with better work opportunities and presented with a better way of life with dignity and respect.
Saira Nargis, Brampton, Ont.
– Prostitution should be banned and women who rely on it as a means of income should be provided with skills and education in order to help them leave this profession. Legalizing prostitution is equivalent to legalizing the objectification of women and will have a terrible impact on future generations. As a Muslim woman it pains me deeply to see women degraded in this way let alone have this degradation legalized.
Mansoora Rauf, Toronto.
– Legalization of prostitution is a terrible idea. It would lead to higher rates of unwanted pregnancies, abortions, STDs, and objectification of women. Instead, we should work to decrease the high-school dropout rate; encouraging girls pursue higher education/training. We should also work to assure that women at risk, such as some immigrant women, or girls who have grown up exposed to prostitution, have a tailored support system and face fewer barriers in pursuing higher education.
Arma M, Brampton, Ont.
Advice from a prostitute herself
– Working part time as a mature escort, I am 53 and enjoying it, I support the legalization and taxing of my work. If I could add those revenues to my CPP, it would increase my future pension while my taxes would help society and all those men who want to stay with their wife but need a physical relief.
Isabelle, Montreal.
Other suggestions
– Instead of banning, taxing, legalizing, regulating or licensing prostitutes, we should simple decriminalize sex work just like any other profession or trade. Instead of making the lives of sex workers even more dangerous, we should recognize that they offer a “for-profit” service that occurs between consenting adults, both of whom have the right to do with their bodies as they wish.
Michael Hendricks, Montreal.
– 1. More safe houses to provide a place of refuge to those who want to escape the mean streets. Plus medical treatment when needed. 2. Use the approach Sweden uses. 3. Give more than a slap on the wrist for those guilty of human trafficking.
David W. Lincoln, Edmonton.
– The issue concerns fulfilling a never ending demand (essentially male) coupled with rendering the services (essentially female). Look-but-don’t-touch (magazines, internet, strip-clubs) is insufficient. Since prostitution will never go away, the issue is now sex-worker safety. Plus, if courts and labour institutions will now issue mandates on prostitution, then why have we not heard anything about the: needs, wants, costs, safeguards and surroundings from those actually providing the demand and the money – the men?
Dr. David Saul, author of Sex for Life: The Lover’s Guide to Male Sexuality, Toronto.
– Women give up their bodies. Men part with change. Some feminist triumph!
Moishe (Thomas) Goldstein, Toronto.
– Don’t kick do-do if it doesn’t smell, is a somewhat earthy aphorism which might well apply to prostitution in Canada. So far, this approach has worked reasonably well for abortion, an equally divisive subject about which, like prostitution, reaching anything like a consensus is well nigh impossible.
Alex Taylor, Toronto.
– The first thing we do about prostitution is try to make sure people are brought up in a way that teaches the sacredness of the sex act. It is holy ground. Criminalize all pornography, as it stirs up an animalistic appetite for sexual experiences. The laws should zero in on the buyers of another’s body.
Barbara Gobbi, Roberts Creek, B.C.
There was not room for these letters on Monday’s page
The perception of another human being as a sexual object can never be about equality since prostitution and violence voids the human form of any moral or spiritual meaning. Instead of constructing smoke screens around behaviors that desire humans as objects, children as toys, label certain crimes as opportunistic, allow possession of pornography, we need to be honest as a society as to why these behaviors exist and are becoming more prevalent.
Cheryl Munro, Vancouver.
Legal prostitution will lead to Chaos! Where many argue that prostitution is already in our society so why
not legalizes it. I for one oppose this idea as legalizing prostitution would mean no fear in the minds of people practicing it who then will be involved in this immoral act openly. This would lead to an increase in sexually transmitted diseases such as AIDS, global human trafficking, and violent crime including rape; in a nutshell a
chaotic society.
Usman Javed
There is not much we can do but get the ones that work the street off the street. And after that all they do is move to another section of town. And it repeats itself. We now have so many of the SPAs above stores and Massage Parlors, plus online and print advertisement of the service. The money that Law-Enforcement uses can certainly be used on something that makes a change. And the worse idea of all , John School, where I am sure no one makes the grade.
Alistair Mckay, Thornhill, Ont.
British Columbia’s striking of the law against suicide was the natural corollary of decriminalizing prostitution. Next on the agenda for these godless change artists will be the legalizing of marijuana in spite of the almost hysterical ban on cigarette smoking. We can only surmise that, having lost their belief in an eternal place of punishment, they are bent on creating their own hell here on Earth.
Betty L. Reade, Oakville, Ont.
Canada’s perennial political quagmire of Quebec really always just haggling over the ransom
price of “national” harmony makes this week’s National Post challenge a familiar theme. There’s that famous story of George Bernard Shaw once asking the lady seated beside him at a dinner party whether she would sleep with him for a million pounds: “Of course!,” the lady replied. – “Well, then,” Shaw continued, “how about one pound?” “Of course not!,” the lady exclaimed indignantly. “What do you think I am?” “We’ve already established what you are, Madam,” Shaw replied. “Now we’re just haggling over the price.”
E.W. Bopp, Tsawwassen, B.C.
Prostitutes’ organizations and feminists, regularly demand improved working conditions, police protection and legalization. Expensive call girls smile from their web pages. Offer them retraining as physical therapists or executive assistants. Include gigolos. Cyclical media and public indignation ignore boy prostitutes. Some are heterosexuals, scrounging for money. Many are assaulted, ravaged by infections or die of AIDS. They are abandoned because their despair is politically incorrect. Rescue them.
Jeffrey Asher, Ottawa.
I suggest we legalize prostitution and designate the House of Commons Canada’s first official brothel. After all, it’s the only place every Canadian taxpayer goes to get screwed.
Barry O’Connor, Hamilton, Ont.
The National Post is a Canadian English-language national newspaper based in Don Mills, a district of Toronto. The paper is owned by Postmedia Network Inc. and is published Mondays through Saturdays. It was founded in 1998 by media magnate Conrad Black.
