A Sarnia councillor is encouraging the public to review Sarnia's draft body rub parlour bylaw before it's approved.
The document was received by Sarnia council Monday for information and endorsement consideration.
Cindy Scholten felt she had to do some due diligence after realizing council has no authority to abolish or close the establishments.
"Since body rub parlours go against my moral code, I just wanted to not discuss it, not vote on it, I know this is just for information," said Scholten. "We always get draft bylaw reports when they've been amended and then it goes to the public and we vote on it again a month later. But, this one really bothers me. I'm just disgusted by it. I'm disgusted driving by any location like that in Sarnia."
Scholten is concerned about potential ties between the establishments and human trafficking.
"We can either turn a blind eye, and you can ignore it or do nothing about it, or you can look at what ways to prevent further human trafficking," she said. "What are the ways that we can help the Canadian Women's Foundation with their vision to protect and keep safe all women and children. So, that means that we have to take a look at these bylaws."
Mayor Mike Bradley called it a very onerous bylaw, which will make it very difficult to operate such establishments.
The city's body rub bylaw hasn't been updated since it was created in 1976.
Much of the research for the update was provided by Detective Sergeant John Pearce of the Sarnia Police Criminal Investigation Branch.
The 45 page document can be viewed here.
