Curfew debate

Thunder Bay’s next mayor says a citywide curfew for young residents would help protect children and curb crime, but not all councillors are convinced.

Mayor-elect Keith Hobbs said he intends to push for a curfew for residents under 16-years-old. The curfew would force preteens and teens off the streets late at night, with the exception of teens with jobs that force them to work late.

Hobbs said a curfew isn’t something that he came up with himself, but an idea brought to him by residents he met during his election campaign.

"I think it’s a good idea because a lot of these kids that are under 16 can become victims of crime when they are out late at night," he said. "We’re trying to protect these children as well. We have to look at it that way as well, and not just that they might be out committing crimes."
The idea of a curfew for younger residents isn’t a new idea. Coun. Linda Rydholm has brought a proposed curfew to council chambers before. At that time the police chief told council that enforcing a curfew wasn’t practical.

"I don’t know if provincial rules or laws have changed, or what can be done here, but I most definitely want parents to keep their kids under 16 at home during the wee hours of the night," Rydholm said Wednesday.

But newly-elected McKellar Ward Coun. Paul Pugh said he isn’t sure if it’s the city’s job to decide when children should be indoors.

"As a first reaction, I don’t think I would support it," Pugh said. "Deciding what hours young people should keep is a family matter best left up to the parents."

Pugh said curfews might be necessary during emergencies, but added that he doesn’t believe Thunder Bay is facing any such emergency right now.

A city-mandated curfew also takes the responsibility away from the parents, he said.

At-large Coun. Iain Angus said he believes there are better options than a citywide curfew available.

"One area that I’m pursuing is the creation of a youth services board," Angus said. "Because one of the things that we’ve identified is that there are a lot of youth of all ages, not just under 16, looking for something to do in our neighborhoods.

"I think we have an opportunity to put together body that will take a look and see where the gaps are in the services and look for some solutions."

Coun. Angus added that he isn’t sure if a curfew would work, and isn’t sure if the city would even be allowed install one because of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Not all councillors agree whether or not a curfew is a viable option for a city, but most councillors who spoke with Dougall Media Wednesday did find common ground in that the idea is worth discussing.