Former Councillor Protests as City Considers Lifting Ban on Massage Parlours - VOCM

[massage]

A former city councillor is questioning suggestions that city council lift its ban on massage parlours in residential neighbourhoods.

Councillor at Large Maggie Burton raised the matter this week, saying it is time to lift the ban. The move is supported by the Safe Harbour Outreach Project.

Hi Jonathan. We are happy to sit down and meet with you and share a report we submitted to City Council including why we take the position we do, references to national and international research, and multiple letters from sex workers and survivors in St. John’s.

— S.H.O.P. (@sexworkoutreach) September 25, 2019

Former Ward 2 councillor Jonathan Galgay says the former council worked very hard to enact the ban based on the concerns of residents. He says the about-face will only reignite old problems. He told VOCM Open Line with Paddy Daly an open consultation process must be considered before lifting the ban.

Burton says the near regulations would not be a simple reverse, but rather a separate designation, with requirements that any business be set up 150 metres from residential areas.

Hi Jonathan, to alleviate residential concerns, new zoning regulations will require siting to be 150m from residential areas, done with amendment to definitions to add massage parlour as a separate definition outside of former service shop designation.

— Maggie Burton (@mmburton) September 25, 2019