HAY RIVER - The Town of Hay River is considering a new approach in its attempt to stop roadside vendors of drug-related paraphernalia from coming to the community.

Originally, town council had wondered if there was some way to ban just those particular travelling salespeople from the town.

However, council discovered it could not legally do so.

The town is now proposing to amend its business licence bylaw to prevent all "canvassers, hawkers and peddlers" from setting up on town property.

"What we're doing is shutting down town property," Mayor Kelly Schofield said at the March 8 meeting of council.

Schofield noted the salespeople could still set up on private property, but he hopes owners will take a stand against vendors of drug-related paraphernalia.

"What we're doing is throwing the power to the people," he said.

The proposed amendment to the bylaw, which will be again discussed at council's regular meeting on March 22, would require vendors to obtain written consent of private property owners to set up on their land.

Terry Molenkamp, the municipality's senior administrative officer, told councillors that a lawyer has advised the town that it cannot discriminate against vendors, but has every right to say where businesses can go.

For example, Molenkamp noted Yellowknife prohibits vendors on some city streets.

Coun. Andrew Cassidy wondered how such an amended bylaw would affect Fisherman's Wharf, a popular summer tourist attraction where local people sell crafts, food and other items.

"This will not affect the Fisherman's Wharf," Schofield said, noting that site is controlled by the Hay River Harbour Authority.

Coun. Ken Latour asked how such a bylaw would impact businesspeople who sell fish and meat from trucks.

Schofield noted most of those vendors already set up on private property.

In February, Schofield raised the idea of stopping the sale of marijuana flags, knives and various drug tools, such as pipes and roach clips.

"We need to try to protect our kids," he said at that time.

Schofield believes the items, which he described as immoral, promote drug use and violence.

Each year, two or three vendors visit Hay River to sell such items in parking lots and on the sides of roadways.

Travelling salespeople need a business licence to operate in Hay River.

However, the existing business licence bylaw does not regulate the types of businesses or the merchandise they can sell.