Inuvik - Town council is looking at a possible bylaw that would put a curfew on Inuvik youth.

The drafted bylaw was written by SAO Jerry Veltman and was scheduled to face first reading during Wednesday's council meeting.

Inuvik Town Council is working to implement a curfew bylaw for youth in the community. A public meeting on the issue has been set for Oct. 17. The proposed bylaw faced first reading this week and Coun. Clarence Wood wants to see it become a reality. - Dez Loreen/NNSL photo

While it is unsure if the bylaw will pass or not, councillors want the public to be involved in the process.

During their Monday night council meeting, Mayor Derek Lindsay said he would like a public forum to discuss the potential rule.

The original plan was to have the public meeting on Oct 3. But that conflicted with a school gathering.

"We should move our date, so we can have the full co-operation of the parents and teachers," said Lindsay.

"It's important that we work with the community to enforce this and to see what they want in it."

During the discussion period at the meeting, a few councillors shared their concerns and questions with each other.

Coun. Jim McDonald asked if the curfew would be signalled daily with a siren.

Lindsay told the council that a siren might not be necessary to enforce the rule and that people should keep track of time themselves.

"There will most likely not be a siren; people have watches they can tell the time," said Lindsay.

Veltman said that he used existing curfew bylaws and consulted other nearby communities when drafting the Inuvik document.

"They have curfews in Aklavik and Fort McPherson; this is made from those bylaws," he said.

Coun. Terry Halifax said he has numerous concerns with the execution of the draft bylaw.

"Enforcement is one of my biggest concerns," said Halifax.

"I want other organizations in town to support this as well."

Halifax added that this could be a good tool for RCMP.

"Law enforcement officers can use this if they feel that a group of youth is causing trouble," he said.

Coun. Clarence Wood has been on board for the curfew since his first term as councillor back in 1998.

"This came to us then and I still think it's a possibility," ha said.

Wood has served five terms with the council.

He said the idea of the curfew has come up at least three times.

"When it was raised, it was supported to a point, but we were told it was unenforceable," said Wood.

"People said it wasn't the answer to the vandalism and youth activity on the streets."

Wood agrees that a curfew might not be the ultimate solution, but it is a start for the community.

"We have to start somewhere, why not with a curfew," ha said.

Wood said he sees youth roaming the streets at any hour of the night and knows there are more constructive things they could be doing.

"At three or four o' clock in the morning, we have groups of kids walking the streets," said Wood.

"Most of them aren't causing trouble, but some of them are. No kid under 16 should be on the streets at two in the morning."

Wood said that his upbringing taught him not to be out at night and he has raised his son the same way.

"I don't think being out that late is appropriate," he said.

Wood said that the bylaw would force youth under 16 off the streets at 10 p.m. on weekdays and a possible midnight curfew on the weekend.

Wood believes the bylaw can be implemented, but it will take the combined efforts of the parents as well.

"Some parents aren't disciplining their kids," he said.

Wood also has a beef with the Young Offenders Act, which in his opinion doesn't punish those caught breaking the law.

"The saying goes; you do the crime, you do the time, now there isn't a time," he said.

"I want to see community service or a small fine with this bylaw."

Wood added that the only way a bylaw like this would be truly effective is if the parent took the punishment along with the youth.

"If that kid has 20 hours of community service, I want to see the parent out there as well," he said.

"That should stop things pretty quick."

Parents and the public are urged to attend the meeting on Oct. 17, though the venue has not been chosen yet.