Nathan VanderKlippe
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Apr 03/02) - Yellowknife cannot block an escort service or any other lawful business from operating in the city.

According to an administrative memorandum to the committee, the city cannot obstruct the rights of citizens to create a lawful business, either directly or indirectly.

The issue came to a head last November, when residents on 51st Street protested city approval of a "home-based entertainment" business. The business was to be run by Angie Fehr, a 61-year-old resident of Thunder Bay, Ont.

The city took one step forward and another step back on creating an escort services bylaw yesterday.

The public services committee contemplated a proposed escort service bylaw, but then sent it back to administration for more information.

Mayor Gord Van Tighem called the proposed bylaw "too neutral." He wants administration to "come back with the focus more on what things we can try to do to make it more controllable."

Fehr's application was denied late last year, because a Yellowknife bylaw requires owners of home-based businesses to live in the business location. Fehr had no intention of moving North.

Rene Bauhaus, who lives across from the location of the proposed escort service, attended the committee meeting.

He accused the committee of being ill-prepared, saying "it was like they had no clue of what they could do."

Bauhaus wants the city to regulate escort services to the maximum extent possible, concerned that such businesses could bring with them accompanying organized crime and child exploitation.

"If they don't have any teeth to police them, they will have no control over them," said Bauhaus.

An informal poll at the meeting showed that councillors support the idea of regulating escort services, but are confused how to do it.

Coun. Alan Woytuik suggested they be zoned into a certain area, while Coun. Kevin O'Reilly expressed concern about legislation that affects only one business sector.

In other jurisdictions, like Winnipeg and Edmonton, escort services are subject to hefty fees and tight licensing requirements.

The matter will return to the public services committee when administration has further information.

The next meeting is April 16, although senior administrator Max Hall said it was doubtful the information would be ready by then.