Access to city walkways like the Rotary Trail would be closed at night under the extended bylaw. (Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

By Alison Sandstrom

Bylaw amendment

City council seeks to impose curfew on pathways

Jan 31, 2020 | 5:16 PM

P.A. city council has taken a further step towards a bylaw that could restrict the movement of people in parts of the city at night.

An amendment to the current parks bylaw that would ban access to the city’s pathways between 12 a.m. and 6 a.m passed a second reading at this week’s city council meeting. The adoption of this bylaw update is expected at the next meeting on Feb. 24.

Meanwhile, the city’s politicians will continue to explore a nighttime ban on the use of back alleys as part of their wider attempts to combat crime. However, they saw the focus on pathways as a less complicated way of getting started.

A map of walkways in the city of Prince Albert (council agenda package/City of P.A.)

While the majority support these moves, not everyone is onboard.

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“These types of limitations on our personal liberties can contribute to racism in our city, certain people can be targeted and others not,” Coun. Terra Lennox-Zepp told the meeting, echoing concerns she has raised consistently since the idea for the bylaw was introduced in August.

Mayor Greg Dionne said there had not been any complaints of rights violations caused by the curfew since it was put in place in parks years ago, and he expected the addition of walkways to be no different.

“If you’re out at 3 o’clock in the morning… and you have a lawful reason, there’s no issue. But I do believe at 3 o’clock in the morning we should have a right to ask that question,” he told council.

Coun. Ted Zurakowski voiced his agreement, saying that residents appreciate that now when they see suspicious activity in parks they can call the police and have them investigate.

“It’s our duty to represent the taxpayer,” he said. “And it’s that taxpayer that has said to us, year after year, ‘do something about crime in our city.'”

Lennox-Zepp countered that people may well have been unfairly targeted for violating the parks curfew.

“Often people that are marginalized, in poverty or have reasons that they might be targeted… they’re not usually coming forward with those complaints to the official bodies such as ourselves,” she said.

Ultimately, the amendment passed two readings, with only councillors Lennox-Zepp and Charlene Miller voting against it.

The city continues to pursue a separate bylaw restricting access to back alleys at night, however legislating in rear lanes is more complicated.

Back alleys, like streets fall under provincial not city jurisdiction. Also, exemptions will have to be made to the potential bylaw to allow people to access their homes and businesses.

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom