Commercial Sex Information Service CSIS
[COMMERCE] [CULTURE] [HEALTH] [LAW]
NEWS CLIPPINGS Listing last updated: April 13, 2026
This collection of newsclippings is for research purposes only. The copyright on the articles presented in this database belongs to the publication that originally printed them. Follow this link for website addresses for some of these newspapers.

Press Coverage: 'John Stings' Under PCEPA

The Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act (PCEPA) 2014 made the purchase of sexual services and the communication for the purchase of sexual services illegal for the first time in Canada. 'John stings' under the laws prior to PCEPA only made it illegal to communicate in a public place (essentially the street) for the purposes of prostitution. This law was struck down by the Supreme Court of Canada in Bedford v. Canada in 2013. It is now illegal to communicate anywhere for the purchase of sexual services with anyone, including consenting adults. This page is an index of news reports of police undercover investigations using decoys and fake advertising to ensnare would-be customers of sexual services.

This City News story below is a report on all the client arrests by province as of 2021.

Map of sex purchasing charges laid under Criminal Code 286.1 from June 2020 to June 30, 2021.
Map of sex purchasing charges laid under Criminal Code 286.1 from June 2020 to June 30, 2021.

Edmonton, Alberta Street 'John Stings'

London, Ontario Online 'John Stings'

London, Ontario Street 'John Stings'

Niagara Falls, Ontario Online 'John Stings'

Toronto, Ontario Online 'John Stings'

An RCMP analyst works on her laptop researching men seeking sexual services from undercover officers.
An RCMP analyst works on her laptop researching men seeking sexual services from undercover officers.

Vancouver, British Columbia Online 'John Stings'

A four-day joint police operation in Winnipeg resulted in 32 arrests, 15 vehicle seizures, and outreach to sex trade workers as officers targeted sexual exploitation and human trafficking. PHOTO: Pam Fedack
FILE PHOTO: Pam Fedack
A four-day joint police operation in Winnipeg resulted in 32 arrests, 15 vehicle seizures, and outreach to sex trade workers as officers targeted sexual exploitation and human trafficking.

Winnipeg, Manitoba Hybrid Street/Online 'John Stings'

A Brandon police vehicle. File Photo
PHOTO: File
A Brandon police vehicle.

Winnipeg, Manitoba Street 'John Stings'
[News by region] [News by topic]
Created: October 2, 2023
Last modified: April 13, 2026		 CSIS Commercial Sex Information Service
Box 3075, Vancouver, BC V6B 3X6
Tel: +1 (604) 488-0710
Email: [email protected]