A proposed bylaw by Hay River town council is in the works that could see several instances of bad behaviour become punished more severely.

Council passed first and second readings of Bylaw No. 2455, the SA国际影视传媒楶ublic Behaviour BylawSA国际影视传媒� during its regular meeting on July 25. Among other rules, the bylaw would make it an offence to SA国际影视传媒榣oiterSA国际影视传媒�, SA国际影视传媒榣itterSA国际影视传媒� or SA国际影视传媒榮pit on any street, sidewalk, pathway, trail, or in any public placeSA国际影视传媒�.

The bylaw would also prohibit physical fights, defecating and urinating in public and public intoxication stating SA国际影视传媒楴o person shall be intoxicated while in a public placeSA国际影视传媒� or on private property if the owner has not given permission.

SA国际影视传媒淲ith the exception of littering, which is also defined within the townSA国际影视传媒檚 Solid Waste Management Bylaw, behaviours included in the new bylaw were not previously defined and thus enforceable by the municipality,SA国际影视传媒� said Glenn Smith, the townSA国际影视传媒檚 senior adminstrative officer. SA国际影视传媒淭he bylaw would give town staff, including our Protective Services Specialist, the authority to enforce (the bylaw).SA国际影视传媒�

Any person convicted of an offence under the proposed bylaw could face up to a $2,000 fine or up to a six-month jail sentence.

The committee, which is made up of members of town council, town administration, Hay River , Diamond Jenness Secondary School, Soaring Eagle Friendship Centre and Hay River Metis Government Council, was formed last year in response to an incfease in drug-related crime.

While bylaw enforcement officers would be responsible for issuing tickets for offences, Smith said the would get involved should the situation call for it.

SA国际影视传媒淭he , through their inclusion on the (committee), recommended the bylaw as a tool to support their enforcement of behaviours such as loitering,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

There was some pushback on the proposed bylaw from some who commented on the townSA国际影视传媒檚 Facebook page, such as Beatrice Lepine.

She wrote that it was a SA国际影视传媒渉orrific response from a Committee labeled a Social Issues Committee to ongoing addictions issues in our community.SA国际影视传媒�

Edna Lafferty was another commenter; she said the town should be concerned about housing first instesd of telling people to stay home when they donSA国际影视传媒檛 hav a home to stay in.

The town is asking residents to take a look at the proposal and provide feedback by either contacting a member of the committee or e-mailing the town directly. If the proposal passes third reading, it would officially become a bylaw.