Good day, ministers. Thank you very much for responding to the many questions of concern to this committee.
Each time a major event takes place, like the Olympic Games, the World Cup or an automobile race, statistics show that the incidence of prostitution increases. As the countdown to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games continues, we have learned that the Vancouver authorities and certain groups in favour of legalized prostitution are already floating an idea to establish a legal brothel that would be run by female prostitutes.
Proponents of the idea argue that a legal brothel would help to ensure the safety of female prostitutes. These groups would dearly like to convince the current government to skirt existing laws on a trial basis and allow a legal brothel to operate.
Is the government aware of these plans? Have your departments already been contacted by the proponents of this project? If they have, I would be curious to know where you stand on this matter, or how you plan to deal with this suggestion.