Strippers allowed for charity events in Saskatchewan

“From the evidence that we’ve been given and what we’ve learned from other jurisdictions, the criminal element really is around the strip club aspect of it, you know night after night they own the clubs, and that’s why we wanted to back away from that,” McMorris said.

“We don’t think once a year in a venue linked with a charity attracts the same type of business element. We’re quite sure of that.”

In late March Premier Brad Wall announced the government would be repealing the liquor legislation regarding strippers in bars, saying that it was a mistake. Wall said allowing strippers in bars could potentially open the door to organized crime and human trafficking.

A woman named Sandy called into News Talk Radio’s Jill Slater and Dave Arnold saying she has first-hand knowledge of the industry and has seen no real sign of human trafficking.

She says if there are those concerns or worries about organized crime involvement, the provincial government is going after it in just the wrong way.

“Wouldn’t you rather be able to keep an eye in what’s going on, that the girls are licensed, that they are of age, that they pay their taxes”, she says

“Or would you rather just push it back underground, which you have just done.”

She says the woman she knew in the industry were working to support their families.

“Many women, who are single moms, this is how they are raising their families.

In a recent interview with News Talk Radio, Calgary police said they have not found any connection between strip clubs and organized crime or human trafficking. Police in that city said the businesses are rigorously screened to keep out organized crime.

When asked why the Saskatchewan government wouldn’t consider Calgary as an example, McMorris remained firm on the premier’s position that allowing stripping in bars could potentially open the door to organized crime. He said members of caucus and cabinet echoed the same sentiment as the premier.

“If it allowed some sort of opportunity for organized crime because of a law that we had changed which we did and it allowed for organized crime to set up in the province then it’s not in the best interest so that’s why we have closed that,” he said.

The stripping events can only be held in “special use facilities”, such as theatres and concert halls as well as casinos and exhibition facilities but not in bars. In communities that don’t have those venues, they can get a special occasion permit to hold the event at an approved venue.

This story is developing…

panews@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @AdrianaC_JME

by Adriana Christianson

Strippers allowed for charity events in Saskatchewan

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