Regina massage parlour owners break silence on proposed zoning bylaw - Regina Leader-Post

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"We are mature independent ladies, mostly in our 40's. We are strong, we are hard working, and we wish to cause no problems for the citizens of Regina."

A slow shutter speed was used to capture the lights of the Oriental Spa on the 1800 block Broad Street in Regina. Adult massage parlours, also known as body rub parlours. are under review in Regina. TROY FLEECE / Regina Leader-Post


Three Regina massage parlour owners are finally speaking publicly about the controversial new licensing and zoning changes that will eventually regulate the industry.

“We have found much of the discussion about the owners of the parlours to be misinformed speculation. So for those that have never met us, let us be clear,” says a written submission for Monday night’s city council meeting.

“The owners are the workers. We are not human traffickers. We are not exploiting workers. We are not members of organized crime. We are not victims,” it continues. “We are not pimping underage, vulnerable, desperate drugged up girls. We are not the scum of the earth. To hear these accusations from some presenters and echoed by some City Councillors is hurtful, simply wrong, borders on slander and reeks of prejudice.”

For privacy reasons, the trio will be represented by Shayna Stock, executive director of the Heritage Community Association at Monday’s meeting, but their names and addresses have been provided to council.

Their submission calls for council not to approve a recent amendment to the zoning bylaw that would restrict their establishments to industrial zones only. Council previously agreed to allow them in industrial and major arterial commercial (MAC) zones (or the equivalent in the new zoning bylaw).

It also urges council to designate massage parlours as a permitted, instead of discretionary use.

“As far as we know, nobody from council has made any attempt to contact any of the owners at any time. City administration did make an effort to contact the spa owners and many did meet with city staff. Some of our thoughts were included in their recommendations to you,” reads the submission. “It is unfortunate that some council members chose to ignore or disregard our input as nobody could be more knowledgeable on this matter than us.”

The submission cites three reasons for their opposition to the zoning amendment: safety, cost, and “unintended consequences.”

The trio argues restricting them to industrial zones ghettoizes the massage parlours and the people that work in them. And with less traffic, lighting and police presence in industrial areas, safety of the workers and the clients are more at risk.

“The second reason is the cost to us. The proposal is basically a theft. It robs us of our investments, of our savings, and of our future earning potential,” continues the submission. “Many ladies have spent tens of thousands of dollars to buy parlours, or to renovate locations. This money would be lost.”

They also argue that the cost to move to a location would be significant and that the number of suitable locations is limited in the industrial zones. They estimate that the combined loss incurred by closing an existing parlour and opening a new one would average $40,000 per parlour.

The “unintended consequences” include driving the industry underground, resulting in women working out of houses, apartments and Airbnb in residential areas and in unlicensed locations.

Come & Go massage parlour on the1300 block of Winnipeg Street in Regina. TROY FLEECE / Regina Leader-Post


“The proposal to make licensing of parlours ‘discretionary’ is clearly an attempt to make the process overly difficult and intimidating, especially to those owners whose first language in not English,” says the submission. “The process would invite more of the same baseless accusations that have dominated the current debate over licensing. At the very least existing parlour owners should be granted an exception.”

The trio points out that most of the complaints have been about a few parlours that have opened in residential-only areas.

“We are opposed to this too and agree they should be forced to move,” they wrote.

The submission states the three owners have followed the regulation debate closely and that for the most part, they support licensing. They say new amendment and the discretionary use designation appears to be a work-around strategy by those council members who failed to get an outright ban on parlours.

They say as far as they are aware, there have been no incidents of human trafficking, violence, robbery or underage workers at any parlour in Regina and that none of their clients has disturbed the peace, been assaulted, or assaulted someone coming or going to any of the parlours.

“No drunk customers spewing onto the streets at 2:00 in the morning, no fights outside, no shootings, no car jackings, or other disruptions,” says the submission. “To suggest parlours are the cause of crime in Regina is foolishness. A few anecdotal stories should not override years of facts.”

They also offer a few words about their clients, which they say have been vilified by council members, delegations at city council meetings as “the scrum of society.”

“That has not been our experience. 99% treat us with respect; most are just lonely and want some companionship. They are your friends, your fathers, your grandfathers, your brothers, your uncles, you husbands, your sons, your nephews,” they wrote.

In September, city council opted to regulate massage parlours through the zoning bylaw and a licensing program.

Council agreed the new regulations should focus on harm reductions for workers, operators and their clients, minimize “community nuisances” and protect the integrity of residential neighbourhoods.

Regulatory changes that have been approved so far include using the term “body rub establishments” instead of massage parlours, to avoid confusion between them and professional therapeutic massage; allowing massage parlours in industrial and major arterial commercial (MAC) zones; and a one-block separation distance between massage parlours and schools, churches, daycares and other massage parlours.

At a priorities and planning committee meeting in November, council members voted to restrict massage parlours as a discretionary use to industrial areas only and expand the separation distance to apply to parks, enclosed rinks, public libraries, and public community centres as well.

Those amendments will be considered by council on Monday. The three parlour owners are urging council to consider their side before making any final decisions.

“This is what we are. We are Canadian citizens, or we are Permanent Residents. We are first generation immigrants of Asian heritage, so yes, English is not our first language,” says the submission. “We have all chosen to open parlours in Regina. Nobody has forced or manipulated us to be here. We have families, parents and children to support. We are not young, immature vulnerable girls. We are mature independent ladies, mostly in our 40s. We are strong, we are hard working, and we wish to cause no problems for the citizens of Regina.”

While they will not be present at Monday’s meeting, the group says they would be open to a private meeting with city council members to answer any questions.

jackerman@postmedia.com

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