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Thunder Bay city council to consider loitering bylaw

Motion to consider new bylaw giving more enforcement powers to police comes as similar proposal in Kenora sparks condemnation
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Thunder Bay's city council will consider a motion to strengthen anti-loitering rules Monday.

THUNDER BAY – Thunder Bay’s city council is set to consider a proposed loitering bylaw that would give police more enforcement power, as a similar proposal sparks condemnation and resistance in Kenora.

A motion from Coun. Aldo Ruberto asks city administration to examine approaches including a new bylaw to address unspecified “concerns from the public and business community.”

The move comes as First Nations groups condemn a proposed loitering bylaw under consideration by Kenora’s city council, saying it would disproportionately target the homeless and only cause further harm to vulnerable people.

“These types of by-laws do nothing to address the root problems that lead to people to be in these situations," a joint statement from Nishnawbe Aski Nation and Grand Council Treaty #3 reads.

Over 100 people gathered in the city Friday to show support for the homeless and voice opposition to the proposed bylaw on Friday.

A memo included with Ruberto’s motion states the city already has a bylaw that includes loitering provisions.

“However, it does not give the police or municipal officers enough authority for enforcement for loitering in public and private areas,” the councillor writes.

The motion requests a report from city administration by the end of September on how a new bylaw could help address the concerns. It also leaves the door open to other suggested approaches to the issue, while directing administration to seek input from the city’s anti-racism advisory committee, the Thunder Bay Drug Strategy implementation panel, Thunder Bay Police Service, and others.

City council will consider the motion at its next meeting on Monday.



Ian Kaufman

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