The federal government wants you to talk to it about paying for sex

It’s safe to say that very few members of the public have ever wanted to sit down with Stephen Harper for a heart-to-heart about sex, but now, with the future of Canada’s prostitution laws in the balance, it may be time for some ordinary citizens to spill their thoughts on the subject.

Following a December Supreme Court decision that struck down Canada’s existing prostitution laws, the federal government was given a year to draw up new, fairer ways of regulating the sex trade. Now, Ottawa is seeking public input. Whatever feedback it receives could help shape the future of sex work in this country.

Credit where credit’s due: the Department of Justice’s approach to the task of gathering public feedback is, in this case, reasonably good. People can write emails and send letters, as usual, but there’s also a handy website where interested parties can submit their thoughts using a web form. These opportunities for reform only come along once in a generation or so. The website is right here.