SASKATOON – Local establishments will soon be able to add strip-teases to their list of offerings as the province continues to peel back strict liquor laws.
It has created some uncertainty at Saskatoon city hall and clarification is being sought to ensure a strip club doesn’t begin operating in neighbourhoods.
The province introduced more than 70 changes to liquor regulations in November 2012. Some are already in effect and others require a policy change before they can be made legal.
One of the changes still to come, is the allowance of strip-teases and wet t-shirt contests. The city is worried that once allowed, these performances could make their way into residential areas.
Saskatoon’s Community Services General Manager Randy Grauer says the municipal government has to comply with the provincial regulations.
“We have to try to find a balance between entrepreneurship and the values of the community” said Grauer.
Under the city’s zoning bylaw, nightclubs are able to offer live entertainment and under the province’s new regulations, strip-tease performances will be considered live entertainment.
This means once the changes go through, an existing nightclub could allow strip-tease performances even though the city may not have anticipated this when it issued a business license to the establishment.
“The province has said, it’s okay now to have a strip-tease in a licensed premise and now our council will decide whether or not they want to regulate the location of that activity” Grauer explained to council.
The city has to act quickly to clear up the grey area. Changes to adult services and zoning bylaws might be required.
City councillors are trying to make sense of it all since “these regulations were put upon us by the provincial government and we’re now tasked with regulating what they have put in our lap,” said councillor Zach Jeffries.
Ward 4 Councillor Troy Davies would like ‘strip-tease’ defined. A clear and concise definition of what is a strip tease.
Administration is expected to report back in the coming months and will be calling on the help of the police chief to set the guidelines.
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