What are the laws surrounding sex work in New Brunswick?
Prostitution itself isn’t illegal in Canada, but nearly all related activities are criminalized under federal law. New Brunswick follows the Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act (PCEPA) which criminalizes purchasing sexual services, communicating in public for prostitution purposes, and profiting from others’ sex work. Police prioritize cases involving exploitation or minors.
The legal landscape creates contradictions: sex workers can’t legally hire security, work collaboratively in studios, or openly advertise. Enforcement varies between cities like Moncton, Saint John, and Fredericton, with street-based work facing more scrutiny than online arrangements. First-time offenders buying sex typically face $500-$2,000 fines, while third offenses can bring jail time. Workers themselves aren’t prosecuted for selling services but risk charges for “advertising sexual services” or “material benefit” if they share resources with peers.
How do solicitation laws impact street-based workers?
Communication laws disproportionately affect street-based workers in areas like Saint John’s Waterloo Village. Officers conduct “john sweeps” targeting clients, creating unpredictable work environments that push transactions into isolated areas. Many workers carry “bad date sheets” listing dangerous clients but hesitate to report violence fearing secondary charges related to their work.
What legal protections exist for trafficked individuals?
New Brunswick’s Human Trafficking Unit focuses on cases involving coercion or minors. The province offers temporary residence permits and access to the Victim Services program for certified trafficking victims. However, consensual adult workers note these resources rarely apply to them, creating a protection gap for those choosing sex work.
How can sex workers access safety resources in New Brunswick?
Harm reduction initiatives operate through public health networks and nonprofits. AIDS New Brunswick distributes free safer sex supplies and offers anonymous STI testing at clinics in Moncton, Fredericton, and Saint John. The Mobile Crisis Services van in Fredericton provides after-hours outreach with naloxone kits and violence prevention resources.
Many independent workers develop safety protocols: mandatory condom use, client screening through references, and coded check-in systems with trusted contacts. Online platforms dominate the market, with workers using encrypted apps for negotiations. Street-based workers increasingly use “bad date” groups on social media to share warnings about violent clients, though this carries legal risks under communication laws.
Where can workers get healthcare without stigma?
Clinic 554 in Fredericton specializes in judgment-free care for marginalized communities, including sex workers. The River Stone Recovery Centre offers integrated support for those dealing with substance use alongside sex work. Mental health services through CMHA New Brunswick remain underutilized due to workers’ fear of disclosure.
How do weather conditions impact safety?
Harsh winters create dangerous situations – workers report accepting risky clients to avoid hypothermia during -20°C nights in Moncton. Outreach groups like Ensemble Moncton distribute winter survival kits with hand warmers and emergency blankets. Summer tourism in coastal areas brings seasonal demand spikes but also increased police presence in resort towns.
What support services exist for New Brunswick sex workers?
AIDS New Brunswick runs the province’s most comprehensive support program, offering court accompaniment, crisis intervention, and occupational safety workshops. The Saint John Women’s Empowerment Network provides exit services including resume building and transitional housing. Peer-led initiatives like the NB Sex Workers Alliance advocate for decriminalization through community education.
Barriers persist: rural workers in Acadian Peninsula towns face transportation challenges accessing urban services. Migrant workers without status avoid support organizations fearing immigration consequences. Most resources focus on exit strategies rather than improving conditions for those continuing in the industry, creating service gaps for established workers.
Are there financial assistance programs?
The provincial Social Development program may provide emergency funds if workers qualify under “vulnerable persons” criteria, though many hide their occupation during applications. Microfinance initiatives through CBDC Central help some start legitimate side businesses. Community mutual aid networks operate discreetly through encrypted chats, pooling resources for bail or emergency housing.
How do Indigenous support services differ?
Wolastoqey Nation communities near Fredericton offer culturally specific programs through organizations like Mawlugutinej. These combine traditional healing with practical support, acknowledging historical trauma factors absent in mainstream services. Urban Indigenous workers often face jurisdictional barriers accessing reserve-based resources.
What are the demographic realities of New Brunswick’s sex industry?
The industry reflects provincial characteristics: bilingual workers serve both Anglophone and Francophone clients, with significant Acadian participation. Workers over 40 comprise nearly 35% of the industry – higher than national averages – reflecting limited economic alternatives in this aging province. Migrant workers often enter through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program before shifting to sex work when other jobs disappear.
Online platforms concentrate workers in Greater Moncton and Fredericton near universities, while street-based work persists in Saint John’s impoverished neighborhoods. The opioid crisis intersects heavily with survival sex work, particularly in Miramichi where outreach workers report 80% of street-based workers use harm reduction services. LGBTQ+ workers face dual discrimination but have established niche markets serving queer clients through app-based arrangements.
How has the gig economy changed local sex work?
Platforms like Leolist dominate the market, allowing workers to operate from homes in suburbs like Dieppe or Oromocto. Many supplement income through OnlyFans or SextPanther, leveraging New Brunswick’s low cost of living against national client bases. This digital shift reduced street visibility but increased financial precarity during internet outages common in rural areas.
What survival strategies do immigrant workers use?
Non-status workers often operate through ethnic-specific networks – Filipino workers in Saint John have established discreet referral systems within their community. Temporary Foreign Workers facing exploitation rarely report employers, fearing deportation. Language barriers isolate Francophone African workers in predominantly English-speaking Moncton.
How does enforcement vary across New Brunswick regions?
Urban police use different approaches: Saint John employs dedicated vice units conducting regular sweeps near the port area, while Fredericton focuses on trafficking investigations through its integrated ICE unit. Moncton police adopted a de facto “tolerance zone” near the homeless shelter despite no official policy. RCMP in rural areas typically intervene only for complaints or suspected exploitation.
Court outcomes differ significantly by jurisdiction. Saint John judges impose the highest fines on clients ($1,500 average), while Moncton cases more often result in conditional discharges. Workers report frequent confiscation of phones and condoms as “evidence” during street checks, particularly in Saint John. Few trafficking prosecutions occur – only 3 cases were tried province-wide in 2022.
What are the controversies around “john schools”?
New Brunswick’s diversion program for first-time offenders operates only in Fredericton, requiring $500 payments and attendance at lectures by former workers. Critics note these programs reinforce stigma without addressing root causes of demand. Workers themselves are excluded from designing curriculum despite being directly impacted.
How do border towns face unique challenges?
In communities like Edmundston near the Quebec border, workers navigate jurisdictional complexities. Quebec’s different enforcement approach creates client flow fluctuations, while language barriers complicate interactions with New Brunswick police. Cross-border trafficking investigations involve complex RCMP-SQ coordination that often delays interventions.
What are the current decriminalization debates?
Local advocacy groups push for full decriminalization following the New Zealand model. Opposition often centers on moral concerns, particularly from religious groups in the Bible Belt region. The province’s fiscal conservatism creates resistance to funding support services that would accompany legal changes.
Harm reduction remains the practical focus: advocates push for municipal “bad date” registry amnesty and police protocol reforms. The 2021 New Brunswick Human Rights Commission report recommended ending condom confiscation and improving workplace violence reporting mechanisms – proposals still under government review. Worker-led solutions like cooperative studios face legal hurdles under “bawdy house” laws.
How are migrant worker rights being addressed?
Legal challenges focus on Temporary Foreign Worker Program reforms. A 2022 court case involving a Mexican worker in Bouctouche established that immigration status can’t void employment standards protections. However, most migrant workers remain unaware of this precedent, and enforcement remains weak outside agricultural sectors.
What data gaps hinder policy development?
New Brunswick collects no official statistics on sex work, relying on outdated 2014 RCMP estimates of 200-300 workers province-wide. Current outreach organizations suggest at least 800 workers operate primarily online. Researchers face ethics board challenges studying the industry, while police data focuses exclusively on criminal aspects rather than occupational realities.