Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan to make stripping illegal in bars again

Premier Brad Wall says he made a mistake allowing semi-nude dancing in bars

After making stripping in bars legal last year, Premier Brad Wall says he wants to reverse course.

Wall announced Wednesday the Saskatchewan Party government will amend the liquor laws, again, to make stripping illegal in bars.

It was only in January 2014, that Saskatchewan ended a decades-long ban on nude dancing in places that serve alcohol.

"I believe that the government of Saskatchewan made a mistake last year when we allowed licensed strip clubs in the province," Wall said. "I made a mistake and so I'm announcing today that we are reversing that decision."

Under the previously amended rules, total nudity was still outlawed, but dancers could strip down to pasties.

Now, that change is going to be reversed. The concern is over the exploitation of women in such establishments.

"Let's make sure we're not allowing for any opportunity for organized crime to increase its footprint or for there for ever to be an increase in human trafficking that we know is happening," Wall said.

Wall said that any possible links to human trafficking and organized crime are too serious to turn a blind eye.

The change can be made in a matter of weeks.

Regina City Council recently rejected a proposal for a strip bar in an industrial area after establishing zoning rules. A Christian group applauded the move, although others thought the city had no right to reject a legal business that followed all the rules.