A graphic shows back alleys that would be restricted under a proposed bylaw, lanes in residential zones are shown in blue while lanes in commercial/industrial zones are red. (council agenda/City of P.A.)

By Alison Sandstrom

Cost of curfew

Cost of proposed back alley bylaw: $150,000

Oct 1, 2019 | 3:38 PM

Prince Albert city council has heard that a controversial bylaw they are pursuing would be the first of its kind in Canada and come with a $150,000 price tag.

The proposed bylaw that would allow police to stop, search and ask for the identification of anyone found in public back alleys or on walkways between 12 a.m. and 6 a.m. was back before council on Monday night. This time it was accompanied by a report from city staff detailing background and financial implications.

A report found no precedent for such a bylaw in other cities.

For legal reasons, the ends of each back alley and walkway would have to be sign-posted, as is currently done at the entrances to city parks.

The city estimated that the cost of erecting the 1,133 signs required would be $150,518.

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Coun. Terra Lennox-Zepp, who has been a vocal opponent of the bylaw, told council she believed the average citizen would rather see that money invested in policing.

“I hope that we all take a long hard look at where that $150,000 would go and if the choice is these two options, I’m certainly voting that $150,000 goes towards our police budget, not signage that I don’t think the real criminals are going to be complying with anyway,” she said.

Noting that the number was the approximate annual cost of operating an officer in the city, Coun. Blake Edwards said the price was “small potatoes,” considering it would likely be a one-time expense.

The city has received around a dozen letters of support for the potential bylaw from the public, with most citing it as an effective means to curb property crime.

Concerns of racial profiling

The majority of council voted in favor of moving ahead with the bylaw which will be drafted and voted on again at a later date. The cost of the signage has been forwarded to November’s budget discussions.

However, there are legal and human rights concerns attached to the unprecedented measure.

At a previous council meeting, councillors noted that exceptions would have to be made for people who live in the area.

“How will we enforce if you live in this area?” Lennox Zepp questioned. “How far can I go to get my mail before I’ve bled into, ‘I don’t live in this neighborhood?’ Is it different segments of the city? Is it West Flat-East Flat? Is there a part where I’ve walked my dog too far?”

She again raised concerns that the proposed measure would lead to racial profiling and limit the mobility of people in the city without cars.

Most of her colleagues disagreed.

“People want to have the police stop people when they’re in that back lane and ask them what they’re doing there. That’s not racial profiling or anything, it’s what I call that criminalizing,” Coun. Denis Ogrodnick said.

Coun. Ted Zurakowski told the council not to be influenced by “unreasonable fears” or “red herrings.”

“The instinct is to push back and say ‘well my rights are being leaned on and I’m leary about restricting access.’ But the fact is that we have a problem in the city and we need to face it head on,” he told paNOW after the meeting.

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom