CANADA—Assuming the imminent passage of omnibus budget bill C-38, the Canadian government will have the authority to deny and revoke visas to foreigners working at strip clubs throughout the country. Conservatives have wanted to end the practice for a long time, the Toronto Sun reported, but could not do so until provisions in the previous Immigration Act had been overturned.
This week will see hundreds of proposed amendments to C-38—which according to The Gazette, "would rewrite more than 70 different laws and have profound impacts on the economy, environment and social services, potentially for decades to come—debated in the House of Commons in a marathon session starting as early as Wednesday. Debate will reportedly be limited, however, as the Harper government expresses its determination to see the controversial bill through to a timely passage.
"We are firmly committed to getting this bill through and we will have it passed before we rise for the summer," government House leader Peter Van Loan told reporters Monday.
The bill is so sweeping that the provisions in it relating to immigration visas for strippers will likely not get a second glance, despite the fact that it goes farther than just denying new visas.
"Together with other legislation passed this year, provisions under Bill C-38 will take it one step further—all existing temporary work visas to foreign-born strippers will be cancelled, all new applications will be denied and all 'open' work visa holders will be barred from working in the adult entertainment industry," reported the Sun.
In spite of the clamor by conservatives, while in power they reportedly granted 496 permits to foreign exotic dancers between 2006 and 2011, and renewed a relatively paltry 100. For Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Jason Kenney, who is blaming the opposition for blocking efforts to amend current law, the number is beside the point.
"Now we have the power, which we'll begin using as soon as those regulations are done this summer, to deny visas to people who we think ... might have a high chance of trafficking or exploitation," he said.
That is quite an odd rationalization, however, considering the visas he wants to deny are specifically for work in adult entertainment, which would hardly be the case if the individuals were being illegally trafficked rather than imported as professionals already experienced in the same line of work. Similarly, cancelling current visas is hardly consistent with his alleged reasons for wanting the law, but it is certainly consistent with the strategy of moralistic politicians who must wrap their abusive laws in altruism, like all wolves in sheep's clothing.
In fact, if Canadian conservatives were serious about combating sexual trafficking, they would work more closely with club owners to ensure they have access to a professional grade of erotic performer rather than drive that part of the business underground, which is the fear of Tim Lambrinos, president of the Adult Entertainment Association of Canada.
"When I say 'exotic' what do you think of?" he asked. "Foreign, right? Non-indigenous. That's the kind of entertainment people want to see."
If passed as expected, the new stricter visa provisions will certainly hamper the ability of non-Canadian feature dancers to travel legally to the Canada to work, but on the flip side it may open up more opportunities for homegrown talent.
After all, as one Toronto Star commenter alleged, "They tried this a decade ago. It didn't last long. Every strip club owner threatened to recruit new strippers from every college and university within a 15 minute drive. If the MPs don't want foreign workers taking their clothes off for horny men, perhaps they'd prefer their daughters.
"Exotic dancing is legal," he added. "Someone has to do it. I knew of two or three ladies that put themselves through school by dancing."
