Advocates push for changes to sexual consent, prostitution laws as top court hears Gladue case

Canada's top court begins hearings tomorrow in a case that is sparking case-specific demands for justice, as well as for widespread reforms to amend sexual consent laws and curbsexual violence against Indigenous women.

Fifteeninterveners will appearbefore the Supreme Court of Canada for hearings Thursdaythat will determine whether Bradley Barton will face a new trial in the death of EdmontonMtis woman Cindy Gladue.

The 36-year old sex worker was found dead in a hotel room bathtub in 2011. She had bled to death from a 11-cm wound to her vaginal wall.

Barton said it was an accidentand that Gladuehad consented to rough sex.

Today, advocates from the Women's Equality and Liberty Coalitiongathered on Parliament Hill calling for urgent action to stop vulnerable women from being forced into prostitution, calling it a "harmful, exploitive and violentact."

Hilla Kerner, a spokesperson for the group, said Gladue's deathmust lead to fundamental changes around consent.

"When there is such explicit power imbalance, when someone is desperate, vulnerable and is in need of the money and would never have agreed to this position if it were not for the coercive money, then consent should not be valid," she said."It undermines the principle of consent."

Kernersaid women engaged in prostitution disproportionately become victims of sexual and physical violence.

"When men buy women, in their minds they buy the rights to these women's bodies, buy the right to harm these women, and from the murdered and missing inquiry, we know that they do get away with that."

Gladuemother of 3

The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girlsis one of 15 interveners in the case.

In a factum filed with the court, the inquiry noted Gladue was the mother of three daughters and struggledwith addictions and poverty.

"But we recall her strength and dignity now, because the trial in relation to her death failed to do so," it reads.

Kernersaid immediate steps must be taken to improve economic security, detox and recovery programs and exit supports for those leaving prostitution.

TrishaBaptie, who is with a group of former sex trade workers who want a prohibition on any paid access to women's bodies, said there is a difference between consent and compliance.

"As a group of women with histories in the sex trade, we know what needs to be put on trial here is men's entitled behaviour to women's bodies. Only an entitled male would offer to purchase the highly intoxicated Ms. Gladuefor sex in the first place."

According to court records, Gladue'sblood alcohol level was four times the legal limit for driving at the time of her death.

Activist Diane Matte speaks out about the Barton case

6 years ago

Duration 1:19

The Barton case is to be heard by the Supreme Court on Thursday

Diane Matte said the coalitionwants to claim justice for Gladue, and to end systemic violence against Indigenous women.

"The atrocities that Cindy Gladuehad to endure at the hands of the accused in this case is matched, unfortunately, by the atrocitiesthe justice system of Canada has done to women, and has done specifically to her," she said.

Barton was acquitted by a juryafter the Crown argued that he deliberately inflicted the fatal injury and should be found guilty of first-degree murder. The Crown said that, alternatively, the jury could find Barton guilty of manslaughter because Gladuedid not consent to the conduct that caused the injury.

The Court of Appeal of Alberta found legal errors, set aside the acquittal and ordered a new trial.

The case has sparked public outrage. Gladue was repeatedly referred to as "native" and described as a prostitute during the trial. Many decried the fact that hervaginal tissue was admitted as evidence as a human indignity.

In a factum prepared for the Supreme Court, Barton's lawyer said the appeals court showed a "distaste for the jury decision" and made several legalerrors.

It said Barton had believed Gladuewas bleeding from menstruation, ordered her to leave, then discovered her dead body in the morning.