Canadian Sex Workers Seek Safer Work Environment

October 21, 2009 6:33 a.m. EST

Toronto, Ontario (AHN) - Ontario Attorney General representative Shelley Hallett told Superior Court of Justice Susan Himel the province is not opposed to sex workers seeking safer work conditions.

While the province's law does not allow prostitutes to hire bodyguards, drivers or receptionists, bans brothels and makes it illegal for practitioners to communicate to sell their services, the women are not prohibited to discuss among themselves the potential danger of providing sex services to certain clients.

Hallett explained the law was worded in such a way to stop the harmful elements of the flesh trade, particularly the public display of the sale of sexual services, and to protect the sex workers from pimp exploitation.

She cited the case of Valerie Scott, one of the three workers who filed the lawsuit, who had a way of going around the regulation in ensuring protection for herself.

Scott had a female business partner in the 1980s with whom she split advertising cost, met clients together and divided their earnings.

Scott, who now operates a sex worker advocacy group, filed the lawsuit together with dominatrix Terri-Jean Bedford and prostitute Amy Lebovotich.

The court in July denied the motion filed by the Christian Legal Fellowship, REAL Women of Canada and the Catholic Civil Rights League to act as intervenors in the lawsuit. However, the court allowed Ontario and Christian groups to make submissions on the case.