Councillors vote to repeal curfew instead of changing
But high school student says young people should have been consulted
April Hudson
Northern News Services
Thursday, December 8, 2016
LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
Fort Simpson's curfew bylaw is one reading away from being repealed in its entirety.
Fort Simpson's village council is a reading away from repealing a curfew bylaw that restricted youth under the age of 16 from being on the streets from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. - April Hudson/NNSL photo
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At a council meeting on Dec. 5, councillors failed an amendment to the existing bylaw.
The bylaw is not currently being enforced. The amendment would have seen a removal of a phrase in the bylaw to allow children to be taken to Deh Cho Health and Social Services, and would also have brought the bylaw into active status.
The amendment had already passed through first and second readings. However, on Dec. 5 councillors decided the bylaw itself should instead be repealed.
The first and second readings to repeal the bylaw were passed, with a third and final reading yet to come at a future council meeting.
A recorded vote at the meeting showed all councillors except deputy mayor Jarret Hardisty voted in favour of a second reading repealing the bylaw. That included Mayor Darlene Sibbeston, who is allowed to vote during a recorded vote according to village bylaws.
Two members of council who had previously voted in favour of amending the bylaw, Coun. Michael Rowe and Coun. Liza McPherson, were not present to cast votes.
During the meeting, councillors brought up concerns that hadn't previously been expressed at the table. Coun. Marie Lafferty said the bylaw could negatively impact young babysitters, who may be out late for legitimate reasons.
Coun. Cheryl Cli said she has had mixed reactions from people she has spoken to about the bylaw, but said the bylaw could be seen as taking the responsibility of parenting away from parents.
"This will create more social problems than solutions," she said.
"I think (the curfew bylaw) is a step backward rather than forward on this."
The current bylaw restricts children under the age of 16 from being in a public place in Fort Simpson between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., unless accompanied by a parent, legal guardian or someone over the age of 16 appointed by the parent or legal guardian.
Previously, councillors had argued it would give law enforcement some teeth to send youth home if they were spotted out at odd hours of the night.
The bylaw came forward after a series of break-ins during the summer, which were allegedly conducted by young offenders.
During the meeting, students from Thomas Simpson Secondary School sat in to hear the village's decision.
Afterward, student Sylvia Pascua-Matte said she thought the village's communications skills were lacking.
"They should have talked to students about the crime and the bylaw they wanted to pass," she said.
Pascua-Matte canvassed the junior high and some senior high classes at Thomas Simpson Secondary School for their opinions on the bylaw. What she heard, she said, was that students weren't against the bylaw - they just thought it should be revised.
The feedback Pascua-Matte received from her fellow students was relatively straightforward, she said. Students felt the age limit should be lowered to 15 and there should be a change during the summer season to account for events such as drum dances, which may keep youth out late.
They also felt the bylaw should start at a later time, instead of at 11 p.m.
"Completely erasing the bylaw doesn't solve the complaints that have been brought forward regarding crime," Pascua-Matte said.
"Modification would have been more effective in finding a solution."
