TORONTO - Political powers see a Bunny Ranch in Toronto as more of a varmint than a fluffy revenue stream.
Councillor Josh Matlow tweeted Tuesday he wouldn't be supporting a proposal to build a brothel in the city, after the Toronto Sun ran a story about Nevada bordello king Dennis Hof looking to expand to Toronto.
The Bunny Ranch owner's interest in Toronto was sparked by last month's Ontario Court of Appeal decision that hookers should be able to hire body guards and work openly in brothels. Rather than advocate immediate implementation of the ruling, the court gave the Canadian government a year to amend the bawdy house provisions of the Criminal Code.
"There are other ways to generate revenue than becoming a pimp," Matlow said, after he sent out a tweet that read: "What happens in Vegas should stay in Vegas."
Matlow's convictions stem from his belief that Toronto's a world-class city where people want to raise a family and conduct business.
"Casinos and brothels don't contribute to the city we want to build," he said. "They both exploit our most vulnerable. Brothels exploit women and do not contribute to the family-friendly city Toronto is."
The premier also poured cold water on a Bunny Ranch North.
"So we're not going there. Next question," Dalton McGuinty said Tuesday.
Hof, who has expanded his operation to different locations within Nevada, said the decision to bring a brothel to a city is not always welcomed by the community and politicians.
"No politician wants to deal with the issue because that one little old lady has a moral issue, which I cannot overcome," he said.
"I am the highest taxpayer in the county," he said. "Instead of having a vice squad that's $8 million to run a year, you take in the fees and taxes from the brothels."
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