Bill C-36 the Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act, received Royal Assent on November 6, 2014. Bill C-36 treats prostitution as a form of sexual exploitation that disproportionately impacts on women and girls. Its overall objectives are to:
Protect those who sell their own sexual services;
Protect communities, and especially children, from the harms caused by prostitution; and
Reduce the demand for prostitution and its incidence.
The new criminal law regime seeks to protect the dignity and equality of all Canadians by denouncing and prohibiting the purchase of sexual services, the exploitation and prostitution of others, the development of economic interests in the sexual exploitation of others and the institutionalization of prostitution through commercial enterprises.
Bill C=36 contains prostitution and human trafficking-related amendments. It also includes an amendment to the Criminal Code's definition of a "weapon." These amendments are explained throughout the fact sheet