ROUTING – Community Services Committee | DELEGATION - H. McRae/S. Mackie/J. Kain September 03, 2014 – Community Services CR_334 Page 1 of 3

Body Rub Centres Task Force Facilitated Session and Task Force Terms of Reference

Recommendation:

That the September 3, 2014, Community Services report CR_334, be received for information.

Report Summary

This report provides information on stakeholder consultation, a facilitated Working Group session, Terms of Reference on the establishment of a Task Force, and actions to-date related to the impact of Body Rub Centres and their locations.

Previous Council/Committee Action

At the March 18, 2014, Executive Committee meeting, the following motion was passed:

That the March 18, 2014, Sustainable Development report CR_120, be referred back to Administration to consult with stakeholders and to hold the facilitated session for the Task Force, and return to the June 17, 2014, Executive Committee meeting with the results of the consultation and the facilitated session, as well as the Terms of Reference for the Task Force.

Report

• Administration has conducted one wave of consultation, consisting of: o two focus group sessions with owners of body rub centres o one-on-one interviews with practitioners in the body rub centre industry o a facilitated session with the Body Rub Centres Working Group.

• Broader community consultation will be conducted in early fall. This will consist of focus group sessions with five key constituent groups: body rub centre practitioners, community leaders in affected communities, community organizations that work with vulnerable populations, City of Edmonton staff, and body rub centre owners.

• The results of all consultations will inform Task Force recommendations to Administration. It is anticipated that the work of the Task Force will be completed by the end of 2014 and Administration will provide a report to Committee in early 2015.

Owner Consultation - July 2013 to November 2013

• The first consultation, held July 2013, had representation from 14 body rub centres and offered owners the opportunity to provide feedback in several focus areas including enforcement of the unlicensed industry, the information course, the licensing process, hours of operation and future consultation.

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Body Rub Centres Task Force - Facilitated Session and Task Force Terms of Reference

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• Following the initial consultation, Administration, the Edmonton Police Service, and the Centre to End All Sexual Exploitation, discussed some of the initial recommendations and considered their potential impact.

• A second consultation was convened October 2013 to respond to the recommendations provided.

Practitioner Consultation - November 2013 to present

• Administration, in concert with the Centre to End All Sexual Exploitation, designed and administered 13 one-on-one interviews. The interviews were guided by a survey; the content of which mirrored the focus areas utilized during the owner consultation.

• The design of the survey allowed for both qualitative and quantitative responses which will be rolled into the results of the comprehensive community based consultation.

• In addition to the one-on-one interviews, practitioners will have an opportunity to provide input through participation in a focus group.

The results of all consultations will inform the work of the Body Rub Centres Task Force.

Working Group

• A Working Group, comprised of key stakeholders, has begun work on research and consultation related to the impact of body rub centres and their locations. Research compiled by the working group will inform the work of the Task Force.

• Administration convened the interim Working Group for a half day facilitated session April 14, 2014.

• The purpose of the session was to evaluate efforts to date, clarify outcomes, and prioritize issues and next steps.

• The working group helped develop Terms of Reference for the Body Rub Centres Task Force (Attachment 1).

Other Actions Completed by Working Group

• Actions completed by the working group to-date include: o two consultations with Body Rub Centre owners o several working group members attended and presented at the International Human Trafficking, Prostitution, and Sex Work Conference in Toledo, Ohio

o a review of Body Rub Centre statistics for Edmonton (Attachment 2) o collection of information related to Body Rub Centres from municipal enforcement and police from other jurisdictions across Canada and Status of Women Canada and review of leading practice research based on an economic analysis of the industry

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o review potential impacts of local and international developments such as Canada’s Supreme Court decision, and the proposed Bill C-36

o development and distribution of a survey to body rub practitioners o a survey of adult entertainment licensing and enforcement practices in other cities across Canada

o Review of statistics from City of Edmonton’s licensing and enforcement which reflect an increase in the total number of Body Rub Centre inspections and individual license checks as a result of further collaboration between Bylaw Enforcement Officers and Edmonton Police Services.

Task Force Presentation

• It is anticipated that the work of the Task Force will be completed by December 2014, and presented to Administration. Administration will prepare a report outlining recommendations for solutions and a proposed budget, to be presented to Committee in 2015.

Corporate Outcomes

Improving Edmonton's Livability

Attachments

1. Terms of Reference 2. Body Rub Centres Statistics

Others Reviewing this Report

• R. G. Klassen, General Manager, Sustainable Development • K. Rozmahel, General Manager, Corporate Services