moved for leave to introduce Bill C-304, an act to amend the Criminal Code (prostitution).
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my hon. colleague from Crowfoot for seconding my introduction of first reading of the bill. It is my pleasure to introduce the bill to this House.
The bill will increase the penalty for persons who engage in the public act to buy or sell sexual services from a summary conviction to an indictable offence. It would make the penalty of section 213 of the Criminal Code, which is public communication to obtain sexual services, parallel to that of section 212 just before it in the Criminal Code, which is procuring.
A summary conviction has a maximum sentence of only six months. While this may be appropriate for some crimes in Canada, it is most certainly not appropriate for the acts of the public prostitution trade. With the increase to an indictable offence it will allow the courts to give a sentence for the maximum penalty of up to ten years and provide the range of flexibility that is needed. By such designation it changes the category of seriousness and affects the allocation of police resources. It places more flexible tools into the hands of the police, who instead of writing a curb-side ticket may now arrest, if necessary.
Canadians are frustrated with the street trade of prostitution. They are upset that along with this comes widespread criminal drug use. I note that many Canadians want stiffer penalties for this behaviour and that is exactly what my bill attends to do.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.)