PANGNIRTUNG/PANNIQTUUQ - Hamlet council members in Pangnirtung are considering setting a curfew for kids aged 16 and younger and fining parents or guardians if their kids are found on the loose after 10 p.m.

"I'm really excited about this and people have been asking for it," said mayor Sakiasie Sowdlooapik.

He said in the mid-1970s the hamlet had a curfew program that was quite successful. Three or four years ago people began to talk about imposing a curfew again.

With a higher population of children and youth than adults in the community, Sowdlooapik said some youth are out at all hours of the night causing problems such as vandalism.

Under the proposed draft bylaw, a child 16 or younger would not be allowed - without a reasonable excuse - on any street, road or in any public place within municipal boundaries unless accompanied by his or her guardian during certain hours. A guardian is defined as the child's father, mother or another person having or entitled to lawful custody of the child, but it cannot be another child.

Suggested hours for the curfew are during the school term from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Dances during the school term and summer vacation would end at midnight with curfew starting at 12:30 a.m. and curfew hours during summer vacation would be midnight to 6 a.m.

If a bylaw or peace officer finds a child not following the proposed bylaw they would receive a warning and the child may be escorted home. If the child persists, charges may be laid against their guardian the following the day.

A guardian found guilty of an offence under the curfew bylaw could be fined $50 for the first time and $100 for the second time. A guardian could go to jail for no more than three days if they do not pay the fine. That decision would be up to the court.

If six months passes and a guardian who already has a fine does not incur another, their next will be considered as their first.

Sowdlooapik said meetings were held in November and December to consult with community members and agencies such as the RCMP, school officials, elders group, justice and youth committees to get their opinions.

"We as a municipal government, through the bylaws as a hamlet, cannot look after the program on our own. It has to be community-wide and that is the only way it will work," he said.

He said they are getting lots of positive feedback even from some of the younger people in the community.

"I think the curfew would be a really good discipline and it would be better for the kids, said Julie Alivaktuk, 18, who is a member of the Pangnirtung Youth Council.

She added many children in the community are climbing on buildings, doing wild things and not listening to older people.

Hamlet senior administrative officer Ron Mongeau said the previous hamlet council had been working on the bylaw. The new hamlet council elected in mid-December will take over. Its next meeting is scheduled for Jan. 25.

In the next couple of weeks, someone from the council will speak on the radio Monday or Thursday at lunch to discuss the bylaw.

Both Mongeau and Sowdlooapik said the hours proposed are not set in stone and feedback from residents is welcome.

"I think the older kids could stay out longer as they are more mature; only the younger kids need more discipline," Alivaktuk said.

Once the council agrees on the wording of the proposed bylaws, they will go before the council for three readings.

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