POLL: Trick-or-treating curfew suggested to city

“There are too many people who live alone … and I just don’t think it’s safe anymore for the kids to be out after dark because they’re not always with parents.”

Brandoline mentioned that it’s not only the safety of the kids, but also for those opening their doors at night, especially the elderly.

“After dark, you don’t want to open your doors so then you sit in the dark because you don’t want them to retaliate if you don’t answer the door,” said Brandoline. “When you live alone, you can’t even have supper because they’re coming to the door.

“You don’t want to not answer the door and I’m sure there’s a lot of elderly that feel the same way.”

Brandoline’s suggestion was on the agenda at Monday’s executive committee meeting which was received and filed but not discussed.

Mayor Greg Dionne agrees with the suggestion on paper, but doesn’t see it being enforced by the city.

“It’s something we can’t dictate. It would be great to dictate that, but then how do you stop it? How do you enforce it?” Dionne said.

Dionne suggests residents simply turn off their lights once it is dark, adding that there are some neighbourhoods in the city that already enforce the rule autonomously.

“That’s how you do it. It would be great, it would be easier to police and control, but unfortunately, it’s just the magnitude of the request,” explained Dionne. “We just can’t do it.”

“I don’t see how it would be tough,” Brandoline said. “If city council would agree to it, I think more people would be more prone to accept it. They’d be willing to shut off their lights.”

Halloween falls on a Saturday this year.

knguyen@jpbg.ca

Follow on Twitter: @khangvnguyen

by Khang Nguyen

POLL: Trick-or-treating curfew suggested to city

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