PICK A SIDE: Was it fair to close strip clubs but allow casinos and bars to stay open

Mississauga | Ontario | Opinion |

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Published October 2, 2020 at 6:35 pm

brassrail

With the number of COVID-19 cases continuing to climb every day—there were 732 new cases on October 2, the highest single-day increase so far—the Province has imposed additional restrictions on restaurants, bars and nightclubs, and strip clubs.

Moving forward, restaurants and bars and nightclubs, will be prohibited from selling alcohol after 11 p.m., as well as prohibited from allowing the consumption of alcohol on the premises from midnight until 9 a.m., which includes staff.

Additionally, establishments must now close from 12 a.m. and remain closed until 5 a.m. with the exception of offering delivery and takeout options.

Further, all strip clubs across the province have been ordered to close completely, but is this fair?

Moreover, the Province announced shortly after closing strip clubs across Ontario, that casinos would be permitted to reopen.

Those in favour of the new restrictions suggest strip clubs shouldn’t be open right now, as they present an unnecessary risk of spreading the virus.

However, those opposed believe strip clubs, and sex workers in general, are being unfairly targeted. They suggest the Province was too hasty to make the decision, and could have consulted with strip club owners in an effort to implement additional safety measures.

The decision comes after a pair of strip clubs in Toronto were linked to a wide-spread outbreak of the virus.

Some are confused by the Province’s decision to allow casinos to reopen as they force strip clubs to close, in conjunction with refusing to reduce class sizes in schools.

So, Mississauga, what do you think? Did the Province make the right decision to close strip clubs, but allow bars and casinos to remain open?

Cover photo courtesy of Brass Rail Tavern via Instagram

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