The federal government will appeal a court decision made Tuesday that struck down provisions of anti-prostitution laws.
Justice Minister Rob Nicholson announced Wednesday in the House of Commons that the government would launch an appeal.
The government is also seeking a 30-day stay, which would mean the law remains in place during that time. The feds can also seek an extension of that period if it's approved.
On Tuesday, a provincial court in Ontario struck down a number of key provisions in Canada's anti-prostitution laws, saying they were hazardous to sex-trade workers. If the ruling is upheld, it could set a precedent across Canada.
Dominatrix Terri-Jean Bedford and two other sex-trade workers argued to an Ontario court that laws on prostitution put their safety at risk by forcing sex-trade workers out onto the streets where they face more risks.
An Ontario court judge agreed on Tuesday.
While prostitution in itself is not illegal, most aspects related to it are.
If the Ontario court's ruling is upheld, certain provisions in the anti-prostitution law will no longer apply and sex trade workers will be able to keep a common bawdy house or work from home. They will also be able to verbally offer their services, ask for a fee and legally use money they make from selling sex.
On Tuesday, the federal government had argued that prostitution is dangerous no matter where it is practiced and government officials also argued that Canada could become a sex-tourism destination if prostitution-related activities were decriminalized.
