There has been a noticeable increase in classified ads from students offering sexual activity for money to pay their bills. Some might say they are breaking the law but to enforce such a law each of us would require a full-time policeman to check our activities. While governments flounder in debt they don't see the possibilities of encouraging civilized social behavior while opening another influx of revenue by taxing prostitution trades and legalized marijuana shops. The government would be on the road to recovery in short order.

Ontario has been the shining beacon of sanity over this muddy issue, siding in favor of safety of the women so there won't be abductions and murders like in the case of B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton, who confessed to 49 murders, was charged with 20, and convicted of six. The landmark court case began with what would be described as a bawdy house under the law.

In 2010 the operators of a "Bondage Bungalow" near Toronto argued in court that the prostitution laws violated their charter guarantees of freedom of expression and security of the person. This landmark challenge was raised by three sex trade workers: Valerie Scott, Terri-Jean Bedford, and Amy Lebovitch. They argued that the bawdy house laws prevent them from taking basic security precautions, such as working indoors and hiring a driver or bodyguard.

Ontario Justice Susan Himel upheld those rights and freedoms and ruled that the laws against communicating for the purposes of prostitution, living off the avails, and keeping a common bawdy house were unconstitutional. The Charter issue of "safety of person" is an important matter to anyone - most would agree to that regarding their own safety. Taxpayers must also bear the burden of investigating, prosecuting, and incarcerating those involved with sex-trade related assaults, rapes, and murders, as well as treating their victims.

Sue Davis, a former Vancouver sex trade worker and spokesperson for the B.C. Coalition for Experimental Communities, stated in an interview with The Georgia Straight: "To be honest with you, I never in my life dreamed that we would see such a sweeping victory", as she congratulated Ontario escorts and praised Judge Himel's decision.

To say legalization is overdue is putting it mildly; Germany (the former West Germany) has allowed self-employed prostitutes for over a half a century, largely to control the venereal diseases rampant after World War II. They work in a group at motel-like areas and customers can circle the windows to select a woman or negotiate. They must have a license, pay taxes, and be visited by health inspectors. This enables government to benefit financially while society avoids disease and the women are not exposed to the violence of street life and exploitation by pimps.

Criminalizing male demand is a system used in Sweden; it's not a crime for the escorts, only their customers. The shame of being ostracized in such a modern society with similar morals and closely-knit families can also discourage would-be Johns - especially married men. In Canada the Women's Coalition for the Abolition of Prostitution wants Canada to keep prostitution illegal but also charge the men who are buying sex, without taking into account the vast differences between affluent Sweden's escort services and Vancouver's crime-and-crack-ridden East side where anonymity is the rule of the day and the police are too busy to patrol for possible Johns.