Whltby Free Press, Wednesday, Septembor 7,1994, Page 3 MPP calis for ban on underage strippers By Mike Kowalski A Progressive Conservative MPP is demanding goverrnment action to prohibit 'girls' froni working as strippers. Young women, seme ne more than alged 14, have been employed as strippers in Ontario bars, Waterloo North MPP Eliza- beth Witmer told The Free Press last week. Although some municipalities have bylaws preventing womnen under 18 from working as strip- pers, Witmer wants a province- wide ban imposed se that coni- munities which do not have bylaws, such as Whitby, do not exp.eence, similar problems. 'Tere is no provincial legisla- tion te prohibit yeung girls froni being employed as strippers,") saidWitmer. "We've deait with tebacco and we aise prohibit young people froni gambling, but te me, this is a more serieus issue," she said. «We're allowing young girls te be expleited." Witmer's cali fer geverniment action fellowed recent revelations about underage stripers werk- ing in seme parts of O ntario. In her capacity as the Conser- vative party's critic for women's issues, a number of community groups approached her for assis- tance,, Witmer explained. «There are problems in the Niag aa Falls area and in the seuhast part of the province," she said. "People started te bring it te miy attention." Wie Hamilton and Toronto have bylaws dictating a mini- mum age for strippers, the two cities are the exception, rather than the rule, Witmer said. "Threughout the rest of the province there deesn't seeni te be any municipal bylaws te prevent this from happen ing," she said. Town clerk Don McKay cenf ir- med that Whitby dees net have' an yage restrictions. ereguat adult entertain- ment bars under the Municipal Act and it allows municipalities te pass bylaws restrictin g per- sons und er 18 frem being employed (as strippers), said But Whitby has net yet chosen te de this, McKay said. He neted that the tewn's two adult entertainnient bars - the HISTORICAL FEATURE i n the Whitby Free Press i .What event made Whitby world famous 70 years age? 2. When was the Brooklin miii converted f rom water power toeleectricity? 3.What Whitby native was a founder ef t he Toronto Censervatery et Musio and « 5..~ >~< Royal Hotel on Brock Street North and Spruce Villa Hotel on Dundas Street West -- are aIse, regulated by the Liquer Licence Act. "I don't know if that would prevent anyene under 18," said "That niay be the reasen we neyer passed a bylaw," he said. A spokesperson for' the Liqeur Licence Board of Ontario said there is "nthing in the act that gives any jurisdiction over enter- tainers.y This applies te performers "of an y kind,' net just strippers, the spekespersen said. McKay added that there has neyer been any complaints ef this nature about either Whitby hetel. Neither the manager nor ewner of the Royal -Hotel were available for comment. The manager of the Spruce Villa, who hung up befere he could be asked-his identity, said he neyer "knowingly" hires anyoneunderl19. 'lIdon't allow anybgdy (custe- mers or perforniers) under 19," he said. Dr. Murkar, former Perry award-winner, dies at 64 Whitby optometrist Neil Mur- kar, a former Peter Perry award winner as Whitby's outstanding citizen, died on MendaSet at Sunnybreok Medical Centre. He was 64. He was a past president ef the Rotary Club of Whitby (yeungest presid ent in the history of the club), and wrote the club's his- tory on its 5th anniversary. H e was the feunding president of the Whitby Miner Basebal Association, past president of the Whitby Miner Lacresse Associa- tien as welI as president ef Whitb 's intermediate and for- mer Red Wings junior lacrosse teanis. Ho was ene ef the niost pro- minent members of St. Mark's United Church, a 12-year niem- ber of the Whitby library board, and former chair of the Whitby United Way. .He was born in Pickering on April 8, 1930, son of William C. and Marie Murkar. He is survived by wife Carole, son Cami (and his wife Teresa) and daughter Karen (and her husband Ian) granchildrenMt thew and Antihony. nMt There is ne visitation. A memerial service. Will ho held at St. Mark's United Church tomor- row (Thursday) at 2 p.m., te ho followed by cremation. Witmer said she has net heard ef younl beys employed as strip- pers, en y girls. 0They're net able te make an informed decision about their lives at that ag e," she said. 1"There's often drugs, abuse and things going on that are pretty near prostitution." Witmer has breught the mat- ter te the attention of Attorney General Marion Boyd. "If I have net heard frem Marien Boyd by next (this) week I will contact hier one more tume. "If the gevernment is net pre- pared te take action I arn pre- pared te intreduce a rivate member's bill," which Witmer believes weuld receive "unani- meus consent" in the leg*slature. "Mest MPPs I've talked te didn't knew it was going on. They're appalled," she said. A spokespersen fer the minis- ter said Beyd was studying the matter, but due te the number of ministries involved in enfercing liquor and labeur laws, nething has been propesed at this time. Durham Centre MPP Druni- mond White faveurs a ban on underage strippers. "I think the attorney general wants te act, but we h aven't discussed it in caucus," said White. "But if it cernes up I would sup port it," he said. et White finds it "passing stranig e" that the matter was raisecd by a Progressive Conser- vative MPP. "This is the sanie party that criticized us on labour issues," said White. "They said there was tee much regulation and now they want te give us more," he said. "Well, yeu can't have your cake and eat it. tee." RISE. r if With every windshield replacement and this ad WI O Whitby Auto Glass ildnt $5.00 t h f A O Whitby Courthouse Theatre. We challenge e i Whitby Merchants & Businesses te MATC OR EXCEED our challenge.A 1J1II ~> Contact Dave at 668-2003 ~ IiI wom pr.m h» d NA ME: GI . i wbh"sl onSl q.Od Ut iADDRESS: WhIb AubGIMSto a300 TAUNTON RI). W. Sd ntoe1h éwl jPHONE: î WIIITBY Du.omsdihcI mg22. i.94 ______________ 430-2526 VDERFULNIGHT FOR TWO! 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