Five things about the federal government’s prostitution initiatives

Terri-Jean Bedford talks to reporters at the Supreme Court of Canada in Ottawa Friday morning, Dec. 20, 2013 after learning Canada’s highest court struck down the country’s prostitution laws in their entirety in a unanimous 9-0 ruling. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

The Canadian Press

OTTAWA - The federal government’s prostitution package presented Wednesday would:

— Make the purchase of sexual services illegal.

— Outlaw the receipt of financial benefits from prostituting someone.

— Immunize those who sell themselves from criminal liability, unless they try to do so in public places where children gather.

— Toughen penalties for pimping.

— Include $20 million in new money to help prostitutes leave the trade.

(Source: Department of Justice)

© The Canadian Press, 2014