Yellowknife (Sep 15/06) - Inuvik Mayor Peter Clarkson has proposed a plan to collect people's names when they buy spray-paint in an effort to combat a recent wave of vandalism.

Ricky Kayotuk works at the Arctic True Value hardware store. He said a proposed spray-paint registry couldn't hurt, but he'd rather see restrictions for youth under 16. - Philippe Morin/NNSL photo

Hardware stores should start keeping a list of their clients to create a town-wide registry, he said.

This way, police would have a "starting point" to investigate cases of vandalism, he said.

In an interview last week, Clarkson said he was concerned by recent reports of young boys buying spray-paint from local stores.

He said he was tired of seeing spray-painted messages on the side of buildings, such as Inuvik's CIBC branch.

"We need to do something about this vandalism," he said.

While some cities, like London Ont., have passed bylaws restricting the sale of spray-paint to minors, Clarkson said he'd prefer a voluntary registry.

He described his idea as "a couple of notebooks and pens," left on the counter of all hardware stores in Inuvik.

According to the plan, everyone buying spray-paint would be asked to enter the date of the purchase, the colour of the paint and their name.

While Clarkson has said he intends to discuss the idea with local business owners, it appears he might face resistance.

George Staples, manager of the Arctic True Value hardware store, has said he doesn't like the plan.

He said it would take too much time to write customers' names every time they bought paint, and would mean extra work for cashiers.

"If I sell a can of spray-paint for five dollars, and I then I have to take down a person's name and their phone number, I need to pay someone to do that," he said.

Staples added that his store refuses to sell spray-paint to younger clients, unless they are accompanied by an adult.

"We ask, ‘where are your parents?" he said.

Ricky Kayotuk, who works at Arctic True Value, said a restriction on age - perhaps meaning no buyers under 16 - would be more appropriate.

"It won't stop them from doing it," he said of the proposed registry.

Clarkson said he will try to convince business owners that his idea has value.

"They have an interest in this too. They don't want to get their buildings vandalized," he said.

However, Clarkson added "without support from the business community, there's no use banging our heads against a wall."

He said he was not planning to present the idea to council and force stores to keep a list.