(Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

By Alison Sandstrom

Curfew

Métis Nation leader supports proposed alley bylaw

May 1, 2020 | 12:53 PM

The local regional director of the Métis Nation says she supports Prince Albert city council’s proposed alley bylaw as a way to make residents feel safer.

Sherry McLennan, minister of Batoche and Métis Nation Western Region 2 regional director, said while she works closely with Prince Albert Grand Council on many issues, she doesn’t agree with their position that the curfew would contribute to discrimination and racial profiling.

“I don’t think it’s a racial issue at all; I just think it’s a safety issue,” McLennan told paNOW.

McLennan said she grew up in the West Flat and saw nearby back alleys as sites of violence, vandalism and theft.

“[Back alleys] were where all the activity happened, and it was dark and it was scary,” she said. “I’m a single mom and as single moms we want to feel secure and we want to have the safety for our families.”

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Later in life, she said, she specifically looked for a house without a back alley and feels safer not living beside one. She believes residents would feel more secure if the rear lanes were closed at night.

“We have a lot of Elders who still live on their own, a lot of single women with children who live on their own,” McLennan said. “And I think by just putting that bylaw in place it will help them feel a little safer.”

As for whether the threat of a fine would keep people intent on committing crime out of back alleys, McLennan said the city won’t know unless they try.

“I’m not saying it’s going to be effective, but let’s try it and see what the results are,” she said. She acknowledged it could take time for people to become aware of the bylaw, but once they are, the measure could decrease traffic and crime in alleys.

“We have people who are drinking and driving. We have people who exceed the speed limit and the police can’t be everywhere all the time,” she said. “But I think in knowing that the bylaw is there and once people start getting caught and it gets enforced, and people know about it maybe there won’t be people getting shot in back alleys.”

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom