Canada, escorting, and the internet

[marcanthony]

Quebec (spec Montreal) is probably my favorite place in the world for adult fun. The guys are HOT and accomodating, and there is all kind of opportunity.

Apparently, though I am not exactly an expert on the subtleties, the laws regarding escorting/prostitiution are more lax in Canada than they are in the US. There are some restrictions, but bottom line, it is not illegal per se to sell sex for money.

So it's always been very interesting to me that Canada has lacked the intenet presence for escort advertising. If you are looking for action, you look in "Fugues" or some equivalent, not surf the net.

So I was interested and surprised to see "Tendermoments4u" , an escort agency in Montreal, advertising in Rentboy.

I am not sure where I am going with this... it just surprised me and caught my attention. I hope it's a trend, of course, because internet shopping makes everything a lot easier. But something... whether it be the law, the culture, or just the way it's done, has so far prevented this from happening to any significant degree.

Any CND lawyers know? 'Splain, Lucy!

[Guest DanMeyers]

Although I am a Canadian (Toronto) Escort, and not a lawyer, here's my two cents. My understanding of the law in Canada is that it is not illegal to escort, as being an escort, or paid companion is not necessarily selling sex.

It is illegal "to live off the avails of prostitution", which is a law that is directed mostly at pimps. The other law that often comes into play is that of "keeping a common bawdy house".

There was a recent court decision in Quebec that essentially now makes sex clubs legal, which, I beleive, as do others will also serve to protect bathhouses in Canada from Police raids, etc. Like I said, I am not a lawyer, so take this for what it is.

*See my profile on this site or visit my personal site: www.danmeyers4u.bravehost.com

[marcanthony]

HI DAn:

Thanks for taking the time to respond to my question. You are both CND and an escort, so I guess that qualifies you as an expert of sorts, even if you don't have the JD after your name (lol).

My understanding of the law in Canada is

>that it is not illegal to escort, as being an escort, or paid

>companion is not necessarily selling sex.

The same is true in most places in the US as well. However, for some reason, I thought that even prostitution was not illegal per se in Canada, whereas that is pretty much illegal everywhere in the US (except maybe that county in Nevada that has brothels?). But that really hasn't stopped the incredible boom of online advertising for such services in the US.

>

>It is illegal "to live off the avails of

>prostitution", which is a law that is directed mostly at

>pimps. The other law that often comes into play is that of

>"keeping a common bawdy house".

I know about the "bawdy house" law, as that is the main charge that was leveled against TAboo in Montreal when they raided the bar. Maybe the "lving off the avails of prostitution", while directed at pimps, unwittingly hampers those 3rd parties who would profit from online advertising (websites, webhosts, etc). Since I am neither CND, a lawyer, nor an escort, I am just guessing here ...LOL.

>

>There was a recent court decision in Quebec that essentially

>now makes sex clubs legal, which, I beleive, as do others will

>also serve to protect bathhouses in Canada from Police raids,

>etc

Yes, I followed that case very carefully... and it almost made me move to Canada! Put it this way... the combination of those types of decisions and the decision of our electorate to re-elect our current administration made me at least research the concept of dual US-Canadian citizenship. And interestingly, I found out that it's really not very hard if you are willing to invest some money into starting up a company or a business.

>

>*See my profile on this site or visit my personal site:

>www.danmeyers4u.bravehost.com

>

Again, Dan, thanks for your feedback. But can you clarify... isn't it true that prostitution per se is not illegal in most places in Canada?

[Guest Barry]

Here's an interesting paper on prostitution laws in Canada and Thailand. It may answer some of your questions.

http://www.essaydepot.com/essayme/826/index.php

I know at times the Bawdy house laws have been used or misused to apply to in-calls by independent escorts. I believe the doors were put on the cubes at Remington's to avoid the public solicitation laws. I also remember in TO when there was a crackdown on the street boys they were defended contending that the inside of a john's car is private therefore public solicitation was not involved.

It's all very convoluted. SIGH

Barry

[marcanthony]

Thanks, Barry. The article was quite interesting. The part about everyone in Canada "trying one's best" to keep prositution underground even though it is legal would explain it's relative absence on the internet at least...