Stripping industry falls on hard times

The law of supply and demand even applies to the stripping industry.

Representatives of the adult entertainment industry say they will be recruiting young high school, college and university students, who might be interested in earning money to pay for school tuition, because they won’t have enough foreign strippers to work here.

That’s because the federal government has stopped issuing visas or extensions for foreign strippers to work in Canada. The federal government’s visa ban kicked in July 14, and it means that strip clubs, escort services and massage parlours will not have access to foreign women.

The Toronto Sun reported Sunday some clubs were going to start recruiting Canadian girls from colleges, universities and even high schools to fill the void left by the government-imposed visa ban.

“The foreign women are much more professional about how they treat their job,” said Tim Lambrinos, executive director of Adult Entertainment Association of Canada, which represents member clubs in Ontario. It’s website lists the strip joints on Lundy’s Lane as members.

“They are here to work and they make good employees.”

He notes there have been no problems associated with the foreign workers and they should be allowed to stay because they are working in a legal business and are not breaking any laws.

It’s estimated that about 800 dancers are working in Canada on one-year work visas.

“They have a yearly permit and it gets renewed every year. If they have been charged with a crime, they would be disqualified,” said Lambrinos.

In Ontario, he adds, women 18 years and older can work as dancers, but most club owners don’t hire them until they are 19 because that’s the legal drinking age and they don’t want to have any problems that might jeopardize their liquor licences.

Lambrinos said strip bars employ foreign dancers because some Canadian women are reluctant to work in a strip club. There’s a stigma attached to it and they are afraid that information could hurt them if it was to come out in the future.

Most dancers work 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. or from 7 p.m. to closing time. Some are put on a schedule and perform at certain times, while others work as freelancers because they prefer to have the flexibility of working when it’s convenient for them.

Lambrinos said when foreign dancers are put on the schedule they show up on time and are ready to work. After all, it is the entertainment business and the “show must go on”.

Niagara Regional Police Superintendent Bob Wright said they have bylaws in place to protect both the public and the entertainers.

“We want to ensure that the people who perform at these clubs are of age and that they want to do it and are not being coerced or forced to do it. We’ve all heard about human trafficking and that’s why the bylaw exists in the region,” said Wright.

He noted police conduct random checks at some of the local clubs, most of which are routine and don’t get much attention.

Police check for licences and to make sure the entertainers are of legal age.

“Safety is our main concern and hopefully our system will be able to stand up to any changes.”