Ottawa to appeal prostitution ruling

A day after an Ontario court struck down most of the country’s anti-prostitution laws, the justice minister said he’ll fight the decision.

Federal Justice Minister Rob Nicholson said yesterday that many sex trade workers are victims who need the protection of anti-prostitution laws. The government intends to launch an appeal of Justice Susan Himel’s decision that declared existing prostitution laws unconstitutional. NDP MP Libby Davis criticized Nicholson’s announcement, saying that an appeal would be costly and that money would be better spent investing in affected communities. Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty said the province will support Ottawa in the appeal process. Himel attached a thirty-day grace period to her ruling and urged the government to enact legislation that reflected it. Most analysts say the appeal will go all the way to the Supreme Court.