Iqaluit councillor looks to make curfew for youth

An Iqaluit City Councillor said the city should look at implementing a curfew for its young people, in light of recent fires.

Terry Dobbin wants the city to initiate something that can be enforced by bylaw officers and the RCMP. He said kids should be home on school nights by 11 p.m. in the winter. He said 12 and 13-year-olds shouldn't be out on the streets until midnight or 1 a.m.

Dobbin said he has done some research and there are 15 communities in New Brunswick and Alberta with curfews. There are also other communities in Nunavut with curfews. One community in the Northwest Territories is considering a similar curfew.

Pond Inlet reinstated a curfew this fall. The fire department there sounds a siren at 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday to signal that it’s time for kids to get home.

"People from the community like that 10 o’ clock curfew for school students. It's more easier to find out each other," said Jolly Enoogoo, fire chief of the Mittimatalik Fire Department.

Enoogoo said the curfew has meant there are fewer parents who take to the local radio station to try to find their kids.

Even if Iqaluit adopted a similar system, the RCMP says there's only so much police can do and the curfew would not guarantee less mischief.

"As far as here in Iqaluit, again to say that all the fires are caused by kids or curfew enforceable people, I'm not sure that's the answer either," said Iqaluit RCMP Staff Sgt. Monte Lecomte.

Lecomte said if it became law, it's something bylaw and the RCMP would have to find time for.

Students from Inuksuk High School said it’s not a bad idea.

"Knowing we have to get up for school and we have all these other responsibilities too. But then again, if you're responsible to do all those other things on your won, why have a curfew," asked Geena Martha Kopalie, who is in grade 11.

Tyler Courtney, in grade 10, said it wouldn’t make a big difference .

"Mine's like 10 o'clock, so it wouldn't really change my schedule."