Canadians think selling sex should be legal, but buying is criminal: survey

The findings of a federal government Justice Department online survey indicate that a majority of Canadians think selling sex should be legal, but buying such services should remain as a criminal offence.

According to a report obtained by The Canadian Press, 66 per cent of the survey’s 31,172 respondents believe offering prostitution services should not be an offence.

56 per cent thought purchasing sexual services should be a criminal offence, with the remaining 44 per cent indicating that it should not be criminal. A majority of 62 per cent also felt it should be a crime for pimps to profit from prostitution.

The survey was conducted earlier this year, ahead of the federal government’s expected new legislation on prostitution.

In December 2013, the Supreme Court of Canada struck down the federal government’s proposed prostitution laws, saying that banning brothels violated sex workers’ right to security of the person. The government was then given one year to come up with new laws.

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