Subcommittee on Solicitation Laws of the Standing Committee on Justice, Human Rights, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

HOUSE OF COMMONS CHAMBRE DES COMMUNES OTTAWA, CANADA K1A 0A6

Sous-comité de l'examen des lois sur le racolage du Comité permanent de la justice, des droits de la personne, de la sécurité publique et de la protection civile

For immediate release

OTTAWA, February 23, 2005 – The Subcommittee on Solicitation Laws of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice, Human Rights, Public Security and Emergency Preparedness will be visiting Toronto, Montreal and Halifax from March 14 to 17, 2005, and Vancouver, Edmonton and Winnipeg from March 28 to April 1, 2005.

The Subcommittee on Solicitation Laws was established by the Standing Committee on Justice, Human Rights, Public Security and Emergency Preparedness in November 2004 with the mandate to study solicitation laws in order to improve the safety of sex-trade workers and to recommend changes that would reduce the exploitation of and violence against sex-trade workers.

The Subcommittee will be in Toronto on March 15, Montreal on March 16, Halifax on March 17, Vancouver on March 29 and 30, Edmonton on March 31 and Winnipeg on April 1. The purpose of these trips is to acquire first hand information beneficial to the Subcommittee’s study. On the agenda for each city to be visited are panel discussions with municipal representatives and police forces, community groups and citizens. Further activities will include visiting organizations that provide services and support to sex-trade workers as well as informal meetings with sex-trade workers and former sex-trade workers.

Those interested in appearing before the Subcommittee are invited to submit their request in writing as soon as possible to the Subcommittee Clerk:

The Subcommittee is hoping to hear as many groups and individuals as possible during the upcoming hearings. The Clerk will contact those selected to appear in order to provide them with the necessary information on the dates and times of the Subcommittee’s hearings, the time allowed for presentations and other details.

In each city visited, there will be time dedicated to individuals wishing to make spontaneous presentations. These hearings will be held from 10:30am to 11:30am (except in Vancouver where they will be from 10:45am to 11:45am on March 30). Those interested can register at the reception area where the Subcommittee will be meeting.

Also, written presentations may be submitted to the Clerk. These documents will be given to the Subcommittee members.

Witnesses invited to appear and unfamiliar with the hearing process can consult the guide for witnesses at http://www.parl.gc.ca/InfoCom/documents/Witness/witness-e.htm.

A guide for individuals and groups preparing briefs can be found at http://www.parl.gc.ca/InfoCom/documents/guide-brief-e.htm.

The Subcommittee on Solicitation Laws is composed of 5 MPs. It is chaired by John Maloney, MP for Welland.