Calgary massage operators under legal scrutiny

The City of Calgarywill examinepossible changes tobylaws toensure not all massage businesses are treated the same.

Ald. Gian-Carlo Carra says the lawscurrentlydo notdifferentiate between therapeutic massage and other, not-so-reputable types ofmassage.

City hall shouldn't lump legitimate and illegitimate businesses in the same basket, Carra told CBC News, whether they are run byaregistered massage therapist,a relaxation massage business or a massage parlour that can be a front for prostitution.

Calgary police estimate there are 50 to 60 brothels operating in the cityunder legal licences.

"At the same time we want to make sure that we're not driving illicit activities underground. We want to be able to sort of figure out how to control their proliferation in a way that makes sense for neighbourhoods and maybe even control the location of where they go," Carra said Tuesday.

One way to stop the spread ofillicitmassage parloursis through changes to licensing rules, Carra said.

City officials, working with police, are expected to file a reporton the issueby next May.