Supreme Court to review mandatory minimum sentence in prostitution case

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OTTAWA - The Supreme Court of Canada has agreed to examine the constitutionality of a mandatory minimum sentence for purchasing sexual services from someone under age 18.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 24/04/2025 (340 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA – The Supreme Court of Canada has agreed to examine the constitutionality of a mandatory minimum sentence for purchasing sexual services from someone under age 18.

The decision comes in a case involving police publishing fictitious online escort service ads.

An undercover police officer told a man at least four times that a female escort was a minor.

A person walks past the Supreme Court of Canada during construction in Ottawa on Monday, Oct. 23, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
A person walks past the Supreme Court of Canada during construction in Ottawa on Monday, Oct. 23, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

The man was arrested after turning up to meet the supposed escort.

He was convicted and sentenced to six months behind bars — the mandatory minimum sentence under the Criminal Code provision.

The Quebec Court of Appeal dismissed the man’s appeal of his conviction and affirmed the sentence, but declared the mandatory minimum to be unconstitutional and of no force or effect.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 24, 2025.

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