Advertisement

Vanier residents schooled on new prostitution law

Vanier residents frustrated that their neighbourhood continues to be a hotspot for the sex trade were encouraged to focus their complaints on johns who buy sex — rather than those who sell it — at a community meeting hosted by police.

Sergeant Jeff LeBlanc, who works for the human trafficking unit, told a crowded community meeting that the goal of the updated prostitution law, passed in December, is to reduce demand for prostitution by targeting the purchaser.

"The Ottawa police used to engage in prostitution sweeps where the female workers would be arrested. That has kind of gone by the wayside for quite a few years, even before the new prostitution change," he said.

LeBlanc was one of five officers who attended the meeting, which was organized at the request of residents who wanted more information about how to respond to the updated law.

Old rules struck down in 2013

In December 2013, the Supreme Court of Canada struck down laws that prohibited keeping a common bawdy house and living on the avails of prostitution. The top court ruled the rules were too broad and gave Parliament one year to create new legislation — specifically noting that it was not a crime to sell sex for money in Canada.

The response was the Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act, which criminalized the purchasing of sex, as well as communicating for the purpose of selling of sex in public places were minors could be present. The new law, which came into effect in December 2014, also makes it illegal to advertise the sale of sex, but sex trade workers themselves are exempt from prosecution.

Residents at the meeting expressed frustration with seeing johns pick up prostitutes from the street on a daily basis — and in some cases, residents complained about being solicited by johns themselves.

LeBlanc said undercover officers continue to target johns in their sweeps, which are prompted by complaints by residents.

First-time offenders are offered the chance to go to "John School" rather than face a criminal charge. The program, a partnership with the Salvation Army, is "a guilting or shaming" that's meant to educate johns about the sex trade, said Staff Sgt. Jim Elves.

'They understand what they've done'

"It's not a freebie," Elves said. "It all plays on their (guilt), if they have guilt. We try to hit them from all angles — really overwhelm them with information."

Johns must pay $550 for the five-hour course, which includes lessons from a public health nurse, a Crown attorney, police officers and a human trafficking survivor.

"When they leave that room, they understand what they've done, and they understand who it has impacted and who it hurts and what will happen to them next time," Elves said.

​Vanier, along with the ByWard Market and its surroundings, was the site of a four-day john sweep in April and May. Of the 30 men arrested for "engaging in the solicitation of prostitution," 22 qualified for "John School" and agreed to participate, according to Ottawa police.