TORONTO - The City of Toronto is about to get a lot more hands on with what strippers and strip club patrons need to keep their hands off.
Councillors on the licensing and standards committee will meet Friday to debate proposed changes to the city's adult entertainment parlour regulations.
City staff are recommending the city's no-touch policy when it comes to the clubs be made much more specific about what exactly dancers and customers can't touch.
"No entertainer shall touch, sit, or rest on, or make any physical contact with the covered, partially covered, or uncovered breasts, buttocks, genital, pubic, anal and perineal areas of a patron or any other person when providing services at the adult entertainment club," is the proposed specific wording recommended by staff.
"No patron of an adult entertainment club shall touch, sit, or rest on, or make any physical contact with the covered, partially covered, or uncovered breasts, buttocks, genital, pubic, anal and perineal areas of any entertainer or any other person."
City staff also recommend all security personnel at adult entertainment clubs be licensed under the province's Private Security and Investigative Services Act.
If the changes are approved, every owner will also have to install alcohol hand sanitizer dispensers in the change/locker rooms and in any designated entertainment area.
Licensing and standards executive director Tracey Cook said the review of the bylaw has been outstanding for a number of years.
"I think we've done a well researched and very thoughtful approach, (consulted) with the whole industry," Cook said. "What we're putting forward is the right amendments to the bylaw right now."
Cook said the proposed change to the no-touch provision is similar to the existing bylaw in Mississauga.
She stressed the city isn't loosening up the no-touch provision in the bylaw.
"Just clarity on the language," Cook said.
