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OTTAWA, March 30, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) -MP members of the justice subcommittee studying the merits of legalizing prostitution for Canada have proposed a “sex tour,” to explore brothels that operate legally in such jurisdictions as the Netherlands, Britain, Sweden and Nevada. British Columbia NDP MP Libby Davies introduced the Liberal-supported private members bill proposing the legalization of full-scale brothels last year.

Prostitutes appeared before the committee, on a nation-wide tour, in Vancouver Monday, encouraging lawmakers to scrap Criminal Code prohibitions on public solicitation of sex for money. Prostitution is technically already legal in Canada – the only prohibition is for soliciting in public.

Ontario NDP MPP Peter Kormos mocked his own party colleague’s idea of the MPs traveling abroad to examine the success of legalized prostitution, as reported by Sun Media. “We’re talking about five federal members on a junket touring European whorehouses at a cost of $40,000 each,” Kormos said Tuesday. “This is absolutely obscene that any of these members … would even contemplate doing this. “It is an embarrassment, it’s outrageous, it’s a disgrace,” he added. “They should be ashamed of themselves, every single one of them.”

Several committee members proposed the tour of European and American brothels ostensibly to ascertain how legalization has benefited brothel owners there – and to get the perspective of police and counsellors in the regions.

Gwen Landolt of REAL Women Canada which testified before the committee told LifeSiteNews.com that the committee “Can get the same information by email from the legal authorities from the various countries.” She added, “It really shows they are trying to exploit the system for their own free perks.”

See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:

Canada Preparing to Legalize Prostitution?

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