Mayor welcomes PAGC response to walkway curfew but unhappy with racism debate

Dionne added PAGC representatives also called him to talk about the bylaw.

I’m upset when any councillor uses the word ‘racism’ _{– Mayor Greg Dionne}

In its statement, the PAGC used the analogy of stop checks to combat impaired driving to highlight how such measures are to protect everyone’s safety even though not all drivers are impaired. It said if a person is in back alley [walkway] at night for a lawful reason and they are stopped or questioned “we should appreciate the police are doing their job to protect us and our property.” The statement did address concerns of racial profiling saying, in part, “it is our hope that equity in policing will be practiced.”

Dionne said criminals “pick on the poor, the rich, all different cultures, so I was very pleased with [the PAGC’s response] because we want to make out community safer for everybody.”

The racism debate

However, he was not happy with Coun. Lennox-Zepp bringing the issue of race into the debate as she has done repeatedly in the months leading up to the bylaw’s final approval.

“I’m upset when any councillor uses the word ‘racism’. It’s our job to fight against it; don’t bring it up and try to stir the pot,” he said. “Thirty-eight per cent of our police force identifies as Aboriginal or Métis — one of the largest percentages in Canada.”

[Racism] is out there, it’s happening, and we can’t be blind to it _{– Coun.Terra Lennox-Zepp}

Meanwhile, while Lennox-Zepp supported and endorsed the PAGC’s statement, she said it did not allay her concerns that the new bylaw would increase racism in the city.

“These types of practices of stopping people when they are doing no wrong do contribute to racism in our cities and we see that all over Canada,” she said. “I have not overstated the concerns of racism and this bylaw can absolutely contribute to racism.”

Councillor hears community stories of racism

She added since the bylaw passed on Monday she had heard from many people with serious examples of racism they experienced “through our Prince Albert Police force, through other agencies throughout our city and our country. It’s out there, it’s happening, and we can’t be blind to it.”

Lennox-Zepp noted the PAGC’s statement used the analogy of stop checks for impaired driving and said while the Supreme Court found these to be contrary to Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms they are lawful because they are so effective. But she drew a distinction with the walkway curfew.

“Carding does not have that [legal] privilege. [Also], driving in Canada is a privilege not a right and that’s why police can pull vehicles over. That’s very different than walking,” she said.

Further curfew proposed

The walkway curfew is the first step in what the city hopes can be a wider restriction on public movement overnight as they go through the process of creating the same ban on back alleys. Dionne was hopeful the PAGC’s stance could help with that process as well.

“We’re going to send [the proposed back alley bylaw] to the province because they have to give us permission, and the other reason why I liked [the PAGC’s] letter and phone call is that part of reconciliation is that we will consult and talk to each other,” he said. “This is a big step for us. It just shows we are building strong partnerships in our community.”

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glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow

by Glenn Hicks

Mayor welcomes PAGC response to walkway curfew but unhappy with racism debate

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