Montreal sex workers strike for rights during Formula One Grand Prix

Around 200 sex workers and supporters marched through downtown Montreal on the Saturday of the Formula One Canadian Grand Prix weekend. They demanded full decriminalisation of sex work, the removal of mandatory bar fees charged by strip clubs – sometimes up to C$150 per shift – and basic labour protections such as workplace safety, paid leave and hygienic conditions. Organisers highlighted that Quebec classifies many dancers as self‑employed, leaving them outside provincial labour regulations, while federal law still criminalises the purchase of sexual services and brothel operations.

Participants said the high‑traffic Grand Prix period is especially lucrative for club owners but does not translate into fair wages for workers. The protest aimed to draw attention to these inequities and pressure clubs and policymakers toward more secure, recognised employment standards for sex‑industry workers.