Sorry to contradict you Lindsay but my understanding of what is happening is not exactly how you portrait it.
The new Regulations prescribing certain offences to be serious offences is of federal jurisdiction, not provincial, which means it applies all over Canada. By classifying of serious offencethe keeping of a common bawdy-house (subsection 210(1) and paragraph 210(2)(c)), keeping a bawdy-house, when suspected of being kept by 3 individuals, now falls under crimes regulated by the dispositions regarding organized crime. This means that keeping a bawdy-house can now be punished of a minimum five years sentence and plus, that people suspected of these activities can be wiretap, found guilty of organized crime, etc.
Now, if you look through some court decisions, a woman who was working from her apartment on a regular basis was convicted of keeping a bawdy-house (1972), etc. This means, as an exemple, that if you, me and another lady decide to share a flat for incalls, we could be convicted of being a "criminal organization" perpetrating an "organized crime" because we are 3 individuals practicing a lucrative activity that is prohibited and now qualified of serious offence - which are the criteria used by justices to determine if an act qualify of organized crime.
Of course discreet independent escorts are not authorities number one priority. Nevertheless, I have no doubt this new regulation can hit in places where it should not. In my humble opinion, it is also a way to enforce all laws surrounding prostitution. Our right wing minority government dislike all kind of prostitution and makes no discrimination when it comes to define who is a prostitute or not, whatever you define yourself as (street hooker, courtisane, escort...). Their douchebags jesus freak supporters all over Canada think the same way and lots of them are elected or powerful policeman with too much time on their hands.
To what I know, sex workers groups are, in part, fighting to abolish the existing disposition regarding bawdy-house in order for us to be able to work as groups in safe environments, share fees... while sparing us facing criminal charge.
I find this news quite depressing. However, I still have hope that the constitutional challenges in Ontario and Vancouver will put an end to that nonsense.
FYI: This new regulation does not need to be vote. Since 2002, right after september 11, the Chamber voted in favor of permetting the elected government to pass new regulations concerning criminal offences without having them debate and voted by the majority.
http://canadagazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p2/2010/2010-08-04/html/sor-dors161-eng.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution_in_Canada#197_Bawdy_house_definition
Additional Comments:
Sorry, i guess i was replying at the same time than you both.