Montreal sex workers' group says closing erotic massage parlours would do more harm than good

Montreal Mayor DenisCoderreis asking for the power to crack down on businesses where the city has reason to believe criminal offenses are taking place namelyerotic massage parlours.

He said Wednesday that he wants the city to be able to shut down businesses engaging in such activity byrevokingtheir certificates of occupancy.

Coderre was in Quebec City at the time, discussingBill 121 a bill that would grant Montreal more power in areas currently overseen by the provincial government, like social policy and economic development.

• RosemontLa-Petite-Patrie cracks down on erotic massage parlours

The director of the Montreal-basedsex work organizationChezStella, SandraWesley,says shutting down massage parlourswill do more harm than good.

Preventing us from workingindoors, from working together, from setting ourworking conditions puts us at risk.- ChezStella director Sandra Wesley

"If [Coderre's]going to goaftermassage parlours, then he's going after migrant women," she toldCBC Montreal'sHomerun.

She says it's vulnerable women, likenew immigrants, who make up the majority of the sex workers in the industry and that closing massage parlours won't end the sex trade it willonly make it more dangerous for sex workers.

"Preventing us from workingindoors, from working together, from setting our working conditions puts us at risk," she said.

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Playing political games

Instead of protecting women,WesleysaysCoderreand others are using sex workers as "pawns in their next re-election campaign."

She says this is a recurring issue each election cycle, as politicians take aim at sex workers for political gain.

Wesley addsthat while the city may continue to try and shut down massage parlours, that won't put an end to sex work in Montreal.

"Sex work isn't going anywhere," saidWesley.

• RosemontLa-Petite-Patrie cracks down on erotic massage parlours

Sheadmits that some residents are uncomfortable with the idea of having a massage parlour in their neighbourhood.

Chez Stella sees these as legitimate complaints and activelyworks to find solutions between businesses and community groups.

"We really believe that there is room for massage parlours and all kinds of other sex work establishmentsin a city, and it can be compatible with a residential neighbourhood," Wesley said.

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