I told you so, says Mammoliti of red light district plan

Giorgio Mammoliti believes the Supreme Court decision which lifts restrictions on prostitution is a boost for his idea to open a red light district on the Toronto Island.

I TOLD YOU SO, I TOLD YOU SO, I TOLD YOU SO, I TOLD YOU SOI guess Im not that crazy after all, the North York councillor said in a media release on Friday, which used sporadic capital letters to emphasize his views throughout.

His original idea was to concentrate prostitution on the Island as a way of generating revenue for the city and removing it from the rest of Toronto. He first floated the plan in his short-lived mayoral campaign and then again in March 2011.

Mammoliti is seizing on the news that the Supreme Court of Canada has struck down the country's anti-prostitution laws in a unanimous decision, and given Parliament one year to come up with new legislation.

He again reiterated that call in his message. "I DON'T BELIEVE ANY FORM OF PROSTITUTION SHOULD BE ALLOWED AS IT EXISTS TODAY IN OUR COMMUNITIES, said the councillor in the release. He said he is concerned that the ruling would lead to the grandfathering of illegal massage parlours in the city.

I firmly believe that the Toronto Island needs to be the only area where prostitution is allowed in the City of Toronto, he said. Shame on council and councillors that did not want to listen.

Mammoliti said now the city faces an uphill battle to institute the Island red light district.

The idea has faced skepticism from both Island residents and sex workers in the city.