St. Patrick's celebrations

[jeffster]

Waterloo city council just passed a motion giving bylaw officers the power to compel identification under the public nuisance bylaw. In the meeting, their own staff admitted bylaw officers in Ontario are required to inform people they don't have to produce identification if asked. The city had been mulling asking the province for this authority, but apparently decided to just forge ahead and do it instead. Their legal counsel believes the bylaw amendment will hold up in court, when they are inevetably sued.

They've also passed restrictions desginating specific days around St Patrick's Day for special treatment under the bylaw, and want the province to eventually allow them to implement "surge fines".

https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/new-bylaws-...-1.4606772

From the agenda packet:

Further, staff are proposing an additional amendment to the Public Nuisance By-law to increase staff’s authority to ensure proper and accurate identification is obtained from persons who are subject to legal proceedings under the By-law, including the existing provisions and the proposed amendment relating to loud music.

The proposed amendment is clear in that officers can only require the production of proper identification when they have established that they plan to lay a charge under the By-law. Further, staff will receive enhanced training and guidance from Legal Services to ensure that they clearly understand the authority contained in the amendment.

Municipal Enforcement and Legal Services staff have collaborated to prepare the proposed amending by-law an resolution for Council’s consideration.

I have to wonder if this is the same legal staff that was involved in the entire RIM fiasco (the initial approving getting the loan) and the subsequent lawsuit they pursued (and not entirely won).

A better option would be to do some road work that day -- fill in any potholes properly, repaint lines, fix curbs and sidewalks. Stuff that needs to be done regardless. Perhaps clean some of the water mains by opening a couple hydrants. Kill two birds with one stone and avoid any issues. But I digress.

But, no, they'll take a more convoluted path that will see them in court, losing, again, and not solving the issue.