OTTAWA - Security has been tightened around Immigration Minister Diane Finley following threats related to Conservative efforts to keep foreign strippers out of Canada.
Numerous threats, of an escalating nature, have been made against the minister in recent weeks, several sources told The Canadian Press.
The exact nature of the threats was not revealed, but sources say they are directly linked to Bill C-17, the government's anti-stripper legislation, and hinted at an organized crime connection.
"It has to be specific enough for RCMP, in terms of their threat assessments, to raise the level of security, which has happened,'' said one high-level government source, who asked not to be identified. "They are constantly reassessing (the threat level).''
Another source close to the minister said security "started increasing about six to eight weeks ago -- and it hasn't gone down.''
The RCMP refused comment.
"We're not in a position to discuss whether there may or may not be protection on anyone,'' said RCMP spokesman Cpl. Jean Hainey.
"This is not something that we discuss, for obvious reasons.''
Finley introduced the anti-stripper legislation early last year -- it was re-introduced in the fall -- as a measure she said would crack down on sexual exploitation and human trafficking.
Bill C-17, once passed, would authorize immigration officers to assess the risk of exploitation and refuse entry to temporary workers, in particular exotic dancers.
Organized criminals have been known in the past to threaten civil servants over regulations involving strip club workers.
In the mid-1990s, intimidation in the adult entertainment business led Human Resources Development Canada to set up a fast-track program for foreign exotic dancers, said former HRDC minister Joe Volpe.
The work permit validation program effectively gave blanket permission for strip club owners to bring in foreign dancers without having to prove they couldn't find anyone in Canada to fill the job.
"At the time, much of the (exotic dancer) business fell into the hands of organized, underworld types, in particular the Hell's Angels,'' Volpe said in an interview Wednesday.
"They, or their agents, would approach human resources personnel in various places around the country,'' to have work visas validated for foreign strippers.
"Let's just say (government employees) were aggressively lobbied,'' said Volpe.
The issue of allowing foreign strippers into Canada came to a head in mid-2004, when former immigration minister Judy Sgro resigned amid accusations she'd given a visa extension to an exotic dancer from Romania who had worked on her election campaign.
Sgro was later cleared of conflict of interest allegations by the ethics commissioner.
Volpe cancelled the special exemption in late 2004, despite warnings from his own officials who feared government field officers could face retaliation from organized crime.
However, current immigration law allows foreign exotic dancers to apply for temporary work permits to fill labour market shortages in Canada. Applications are processed on a case-by-case basis, with immigration workers in foreign missions requiring visa applicants to provide valid work contracts.
A number of strip club owners have said they will challenge the proposed new law in court, warning that restrictions included in the legislation would put them out of business.
Only 17 exotic dancer permits have been issued since the Conservatives came to power, down from 423 in 2004.
The Conservatives should leave well enough alone and let foreign exotic dancers into Canada and out of countries where they face regular exploitation, says Guidy Mamann, a Toronto lawyer who specializes in immigration issues.
"Those women are leaving situations that are much harsher than anything that they would face in Canada,'' said Mamann.
While not condoning threats against Finley, Mamann said he understands the anxiety of club owners who face declining numbers of Canadian women willing to work as strippers.
"I think it's disgusting that someone would threaten a minister physically for doing what she believes is the right thing to do from a legislative point of view,'' said Mamann.
"But in the end, I can understand the frustration of people who are involved in a lawful business, who are properly licensed, and who have a skill shortage,'' he said.
"They are essentially discriminated against and they are not given equal access to foreign pools of labour.''
