By ROB GILLIES reporting for Associated Press
TORONTO  

Canada's government is introducing legislation that will make it legal to sell sex privately, but illegal to buy it.

The law is similar to legislation in Sweden that was introduced in 1999, which prosecutes the client but views the prostitute as an exploited victim.

The proposed law is in response to Canada's highest court striking down the country's anti-prostitution laws last year.  The court, ruling in a case brought by three women in the sex trade, struck down bans on keeping a brothel, making a living from prostitution, and street soliciting. The ruling didn't take effect, however, because the court gave Parliament a year to respond with new legislation.

Justice Minister Peter MacKay says the new will law target pimps and "the perverts.