Charges will no doubt be laid across the Province until (and unless) a final decision of the Supreme Court affirms the lower court decision. A judge's finding that legislation is invalidated by the Charter creates a precedent that can be used as a defence in Court but doesn't stop the police charging. The laws remain on the statute books -- and another Superior Court judge is entitled to disagree and hold the laws valid.
Police charge 27 in massage parlour raid
October 18, 2010
Donovan Vincent
Staff Reporter
Police are warning the public that prostitution legislation is still in force after 27 people were charged in a raid on a Markham massage parlour.
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Included in the 27 arrests were five bawdy house keepers, 15 workers and seven other people found inside, police say. Charges include exercising control, keeping a common bawdy house, living on the avails of prostitution, possession of the proceeds of crime and being an inmate of a common bawdy house
The raid is believed to be the largest in the province since an Ontario Superior Court judge struck down Canada's prostitution laws last month, ruling provisions meant to protect women and residential neighbourhoods are endangering sex workers' lives.
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York Regional Police say they are still laying prostitution-related charges despite the ruling. "We're under an obligation to enforce the current laws,'' said Const. Rebecca Boyd, a spokesperson for the force.
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