I would say it is a mistake or an illusion to say that this law allows sex workers to continue to work. Particularly for Asian and migrant sex workers, even some who are permanent residents, because of the language barrier and also because they do not have enough income, a third party or the client is often their very important support system. For example, they may need someone to help them advertise or communicate with clients, but everything has become illegal.
I think there is an extra layer because the anti-trafficking investigation always involves the CBSA. We see many anti-sex work investigations turn into anti-migrant. With the immigration policy now, even people with temporary work permits are not allowed to work in the sex industry.
That's why for us it's very important to have the law protect the sex workers' safety, but at the same time, we keep saying this is also about their work and their livelihood. It's also about the agency of the worker. They should have the right to make decisions about their life and about their work. When we hear other speakers say how they are so happy to shut down a massage parlour, we have so many workers crying and so many workers feeling so helpless and frustrated when they've lost their income.
This whole criminalization has put the sex worker in a position from which they cannot seek any help. Very importantly, help is not only from the police. A lot of mutual support systems are being criminalized, and they cannot protect them.
We also need to recognize whether people really, truly want to end violence against sex workers or whether they want to end sex work. Ending sex work will not bring safety to the sex worker. Removing the criminal law can help the sex worker work more safely. This is the law that makes people feel afraid to move forward, because we have seen so many workers arrested and investigated when they contact the police.
One of the workers has been assaulted four times, and she does not even want to scream, because she is so worried that the police will come. The police just arrested her friend, and her friend got deported.