EGGS BENEDICT DITCHES ENGLISH MUFFIN FOOD {page 34} MARCH TO THE SUPER BOWL BREAKING DOWN THE FINAL FOUR {page 36}
ABSURD
PORTLANDIA PAIR IMPROV THROUGH COMEDY HIT {page 26}
OTTAWA
Weekend, January 20-22, 2012 www.metronews.ca News worth sharing.
Sex workers take fight to top court
Sarah. Burke
Want public-interest standing to challenge Canadian Criminal Code’s anti-prostitution provisions JOE LOFARO/METRO
Sarah Burke holds her gold medal after winning the Women’s SuperPipe event at the Winter X Games 13 at Buttermilk Ski Area, near Aspen, Colo., on Jan. 23, 2009. The Burke family has announced that the freestyle skier has died. More coverage, page 10. NATHAN BILOW/THE CANADIAN PRESS
Canadian skier succumbs to injuries
Sex-worker supporters rallied outside the Supreme Court of Canada Thursday afternoon after a British Columbian group argued before the top court for the right to challenge Canada’s prostitution laws. After the hearing, lawyer Katrina Pacey joined her clients, the Downtown Eastside Sex Workers United Against Violence society (SWUAV) and Sheryl Kiselbach, a former sex worker, on the front steps of the court to speak to the media. SWUAV and Kiselbach want to be granted public-interest standing before advancing their case. SWUAV and Kiselbach filed a constitutional challenge in 2007 against the communication law, as well the bawdy-house law and some aspects of the procuring law. Prostitution is legal, but communicating for buying or selling sex, pimping and running a brothel are all illegal. The plaintiffs argue Canada’s current laws put sex workers in dangerous situations and perpetuate the risks they face. Pacey said Thursday was an emotional day and described it as a first step for sex workers getting their day in court. “What this is about is access to justice … and (telling) the justice system about the charter violations they face every day,” Pacey said.
“I’d love to be able to tell them they don’t have to fear looking over their shoulder when they’re working on the street, that they can take their time in assessing that john.” SHERYL KISELBACH Prostitutes of Ottawa/Gatineau Work Educate and Resist (POWER) vice-chair Chris Bruckert, who recently voiced concerns about violence against sex workers in Ottawa, said the general public is beginning to understand that the key issue of the this ongoing battle is violence against women. “Most people will not support policies that will facilitate violence against women,” said Bruckert. A decision is expected from the court in the next few months. JOE LOFARO