Massage studio in Pointe-St-Charles social housing building questioned

A Montreal city councillor is raising questions about a business offering massages on the ground floor of a city-owned social housing unit in Pointe-St-Charles.

Steve Shanahan, a councilor in the Peter-McGill district for Le Vrai Changement pour Montréal opposition party, noticed the business on Centre Street over the weekend.

He said it advertises massages and appeared to be open until 4 a.m. on weekends.

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Shanahan is concerned the business may be offering erotic massages, even though he said he doesn't have "absolute proof." 

"To me, it's just a terribly sad situation," he told CBC.

He said the SHDM, Montreal's affordable housing corporation, should rent space to businesses that would help the community instead, such as a grocer offering fresh produce.

"I think we've got to take a look at changing the business that's in there, and I don't know what legally what has to happen," he said.

"It didn't even occur to me that the SHDM would rent out space to a massage parlour."

However, the owner of Massage Diamant denies any wrongdoing.

Tatiania Ilyina said her business offers Swedish massages and operates only between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. Ilyina pays close to $1,200 per month to the city in rent, she said.

When shown online reviews of the facility that are erotic in nature, Ilyina said you cannot believe everything you read on the internet. 

Leslie Molko, a spokesperson for the SHDM, said the business is registered as a beauty and esthetics salon.

She said the SHDM has asked the borough to look into the matter.

Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre said shortly after taking office he would make cracking down on illegal erotic massage parlours a priority.

Police have estimated there are up to 300 erotic massage parlours in the city.