ROUTING Community Services Committee | DELEGATION - H. McRae/S. Mackie/J.

Kain
September 03, 2014 Community Services CR_334
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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
Body Rub Centres Task Force - Facilitated Session and Task Force Terms of
Reference

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o review potential impacts of local and international developments such
as Canadas 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 Edmontons 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