Government boosts budget to combat child prostitution

EDMONTON — The province is adding $10 million to the amount it spends helping child prostitutes get off the street.

Children's Services Minister Iris Evans, who announced the new funding in Edmonton on Friday, says more treatment programs are needed to help children get out of prostitution and beat related problems such as drug addiction.

"We're hoping that we can expand our outreach services predominantly in Calgary and Edmonton to make sure that there are people on the street to consult with, to mentor to," says Evans.

Evans says the additional money will back up the changes being made to the government's child prostitution law.

That legislation will allow child prostitutes to be detained for five to 47 days.