Massage parlour bylaw could be step closer

As the city conducts a bylaw investigation into Regina 151, a members-only strip club, a longawaited report on Regina’s adult entertainment bylaws may finally be coming to fruition.

Mayor Michael Fougere said he hopes the report, which will look at police enforcement and a potential licensing bylaw for massage parlours in Regina, will be ready to bring to city council this fall.

As part of the process, the city has been consulting with the Regina Police Service, Fougere said at a Board of Police Commissioners meeting Wednesday morning.

“We’re looking at enforcement. We’re looking at whether we want to have a licensing mechanism or a way to identify where they’re at and where they should be,” said Fougere, adding zoning issues are also being addressed.

“This isn’t registered massage therapy, this isn’t rehabilitation massage, these are massage parlours that are for all intents and purposes offering sexual services,” said police Chief Evan Bray.

Bray said a federal legislative change that took away the charge for someone for selling sexual services, leaving a charge for purchasing sexual services makes enforcement difficult.

“These businesses aren’t jumping up and down to provide us statements that someone is coming in there and purchasing sexual services because that’s their business,” he said.

In Saskatoon, the Adult Services Licensing bylaw requires anyone working in an “adult service business” to be licensed, including anyone who is “performing a body rub.” It also requires any business that arranges such service to also be licensed.

For sex workers to become licensed,

We’re looking at enforcement. We’re looking at whether we want to have a licensing mechanism.

they must meet with police and provide identifying information, including proof of age, and a criminal record check. Those working in the city without a licence are subject to fines between $250 and $1,000.

Bray is optimistic that a bylaw in Regina will make a positive difference for enforcement and regulation.

“If you don’t have the bylaw, then perhaps you are a target in Canada for people that want to go and work illegally (and) not comply with any sort of regulations,” said Bray.