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The government is appealing a lower court ruling last fall that struck down the three anti-prostitution provisions of the Criminal Code.

This challenge was raised by three sex trade workers who argue the laws prevent them from taking basic safety precautions, such as hiring a bodyguard, working indoors or spending time assessing potential clients.

The large number of intervener groups speaks to the passion over, and importance of, the emotional issue.

Prostitution is immoral and should be eradicated through strict laws, even if that leaves sex trade workers vulnerable to attack, argued Ranjan Agarwal, a lawyer representing the Christian Legal Fellowship, Catholic Rights League and REAL Women of Canada.

“Parliament intended to eradicate prostitution” by enacting these laws because it is “an attack on the fundamental values of modern Canadian society,” he said.

But, asked Justice David Doherty, what if that meant sex workers die as a result, wouldn’t that be harm out of proportion from the intended good?

No, Mr. Agarwal said, such an outcome is a “sad side effect,” and it was better for Parliament to “send a signal” to anyone thinking of entering the sex trade that there was great risk involved. His stance caused a ripple of derision from several sex workers observing the proceedings.

“Canadians have good reason to abhor prostitution and they have every reason and justification to discourage people from engaging in the sex-trade, either as sex workers, customers, pimps and madams or as service-providers,” the groups told the court.