Saskatoon council approves adult services bylaw

City council in Saskatoon has voted unanimously to give police new powers to better regulate the sex trade.

The Adult Services Licensing Bylaw targets people who sell sex on the internet, or through escort businesses and massage parlours.

Officials say its intent is to protect under-age teens. It doesn't affect street prostitution, but will lead to more checks indoors.

"There's going to be a big change," Saskatoon police chief Clive Weighill said.

"You're an escort service now, we're going to be checking the escorts out. You're running a massage parlour, we're going to be coming down and checking your massage parlour. We're going to make sure that you have a licence, we're going to make sure the people working there are 18 years of age."

The bylaw will come into effect in July.

It will require so-called adult service businesses to be licensed. Weighill said he doesn't expect all sex trade workers and business to get licences, but adds that's not the point.

What's important is that the bylaw will give police the power to check the ages of people employed in the businesses.

Similar laws are in place in Victoria, Edmonton and other cities, he said.