One of the challenges, which I think Mr. Brandt touched on, is that Bill C-36, or PCEPA, is not being uniformly enforced across Canada. Particularly in B.C., it was declared very early on that the Vancouver Police Department would not engage in arresting purchasers of commercialized sexual services. That policy has been taken throughout B.C. in other police forces.
That's the first problem. The legislation has not been given a chance to operate properly in B.C.
I think a number of improvements to PCEPA could be made to protect the rights of women and those engaged in prostitution. I'll say that there's a big difference between PCEPA and the previous legislation. The purposes are completely different. They're in different sections of the Criminal Code. It's now a crime of violence rather than a property offence and a nuisance offence, so it recognizes that this is a crime of violence, as the Ontario Court of Appeal has just recognized.
I would say there are a couple ways we can improve the federal approach towards prostitution. First of all, we need consistent application across Canada. Second, when I appeared before Parliament back in 2013, everyone was unanimous in saying that section 213 should be repealed. I agree with that still. The communication provision outside schools and churches, although I recognize and appreciate the goal of it, has the effect of criminalizing those who are engaged in prostitution. Also, by criminalizing them, it prevents them from exiting. In my submission, that should be repealed.
There's also expunging the records of those who have been convicted of selling sexual services in order to permit them to gain employment. There are many pieces of legislation across Canada that prevent those with criminal records from working, particularly in the volunteer sector. That is a barrier to exiting, which tends to punish the more vulnerable.
Increased funding—