Exotic dancers no longer eligible for work permits

Canadian employers will no longer be able to hire temporary foreign workers as exotic dancers or for other sex-trade work. Human Resources Minister Diane Finley and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney announced last Wednesday (July 4, 2012) that they will no longer provide the paperwork needed to bring in temporary foreign workers for employment in the sex industry. Further, under the Conservatives’ omnibus budget bill C-38, Canadian Immigration officials will be given the power to refuse and invalidate both new and previously-held visas given to foreign-born exotic dancers.

Effective July 4, 2012, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada will “issue negative Labour Market Opinions” for applications from employers linked to the sex trade. This effectively denies them the permission to hire temporary foreign workers. As of July 14, Kenney’s department will stop processing new work permit applications from temporary foreign workers who plan to work for strip clubs, escort services and massage parlours.

According to the government release entitled “Government of Canada takes action to protect temporary foreign workers,” the negative labour market opinions will also apply to other businesses linked to the sex trade, “particularly if there is a heightened risk of abuse or exploitation of workers.”

According to CBC News, the exotic dancer option has been less and less available over the years, with only 496 visas issued between 2006 and 201, compared to the 1,713 visas issued to exotic dancers between 2001 and 2005. The majority of permits issued recently have been for people who are already in Canada, as opposed to those who applied for the permits from outside the country.

Below is the full text of the government release of July 4, 2012:

Toronto, Ontario and Calgary, Alberta, July 4, 2012—The Government of Canada is taking action to protect vulnerable foreign workers from the risk of abuse and exploitation in sex trade related businesses. Significant new measures were announced today by the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, and the Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism.

“Our government is committed to protecting all workers from abuse, exploitation and demeaning work,” said Minister Finley. “Through collaborative partnerships and preventative action, these new measures will further strengthen Canada’s National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking, which was launched in early June.”

Foreign nationals brought to Canada to work in sex trade related businesses are particularly at risk of being exploited or abused. Denying these businesses access to temporary foreign workers will help protect vulnerable individuals by keeping them out of these types of situations.

“Canadians want an immigration system that is open and fair—they do not want a system that can be used to exploit people,” said Minister Kenney. “Canadians have told us they want to put a stop to foreign workers entering Canada to work in businesses where there are reasonable grounds to suspect a risk of sexual exploitation. The Government has listened and acted.”

Effective immediately, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada will issue negative Labour Market Opinions (LMOs) for all applications from employers linked to the sex trade, effectively preventing them from hiring temporary foreign workers. Also, as of July 14th, Citizenship and Immigration Canada will no longer process new work permit applications from temporary foreign workers intending to work for sex trade related businesses—namely strip clubs, escort services and massage parlours.

In addition to businesses in those sectors, the new restrictions on LMOs will apply to other businesses linked to the sex trade, particularly if there is a heightened risk of abuse or exploitation of workers.

Future actions, including regulatory changes, are under development as part of the Government’s National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking.