THE CANADIAN PRESS
Wednesday, January 17, 2018 6:02:45 EST PM
MONTREAL — In an effort to tackle sexual exploitation, Quebec’s third-largest city adopted a bylaw this week limiting all new, sex-related businesses to one industrial zone.
A maximum of five so-called erotic businesses will be allowed in the new territory in Laval, just north of Montreal.
As two such companies are already operating in the delineated area, there is only room for three more, the city said Wednesday.
MONTREAL — In an effort to tackle sexual exploitation, Quebec’s third-largest city adopted a bylaw this week limiting all new, sex-related businesses to one industrial zone.
A maximum of five so-called erotic businesses will be allowed in the new territory in Laval, just north of Montreal.
As two such companies are already operating in the delineated area, there is only room for three more, the city said Wednesday.
“Sex-related businesses are conducive to sexual exploitation,” city councillor Sandra Desmeules said in an interview. “I don’t want to generalize, but we have a problem in Quebec and we are taking concrete action against this.”
Laval has about 20 erotic businesses such as massage parlours, strip clubs and sex boutiques outside the industrial zone.
They will be allowed to continue operating under the concept of acquired rights, Desmeules said.
The greater Montreal area is known for its abundance of massage parlours whose employees illegally offer sex.
Montreal police generally allow these companies to operate if investigators don’t receive information the businesses are hiring underage women or have clear ties to organized crime.
In Laval, Desmeules said recent police raids on massage parlours uncovered “sexual exploitation, but no minors.”
Nonetheless, she said citizens were getting tired of sex-related businesses opening up near schools and daycares.
“People wanted a solid rule to stop this from happening,” she said.
City spokeswoman Nadine Lussier said half of the 40 massage parlours in Laval lost their operating permits at the end of 2017 because they employed people who offered clients sexual services.
Desmeules said Laval chose to limit the industrial zone to five sex-related businesses because “we thought five was enough.”
She added the acquired rights of current sex-related businesses operating outside the zone will likely end when they are sold.
“I don’t want to get into a case-by-case analysis,” she said. “But if the business closes, generally the acquired right (ends).”
If you are operating a legitimate business, even one that is not related to the sex industry, but own the building you work out of and it has one of these types of business, then getting a mortgage can be very difficult, at least until the other business is no longer there. This is where a private mortgage can help. A company like TempBridge Inc will lend money based on the equity of the property, and although the rates are higher than a banks, they can provide you with the means to carry on your own business. Visit them at www.tempbridge.ca
