City places temporary ban on combative sports in Edmonton

Edmonton city council placeda temporary ban on issuing new licences or event permits for combative sports Friday.

The moratorium will remainin effect until Dec. 31,2018, or until council provides further direction, the city said in a news release.

The finalreport willbe made public next Thursday,said Mayor DonIveson.

"The Hague family needs closure on this," Ivesonsaid. "We just ordered that whatever state it's in, [the report] needs to be released.

"It's time for the recommendations and findings, whatever they are, to be aired publicly and then for council to act on them in the new year."

The province shouldregulate combative sport, not municipalities, said Coun. Ben Henderson.

"We argued for a long time, this isn't the business the city should be in and at a certain point you've got togo, 'Enough.'

"This is not a permanent choice, this is a moratorium to actually allow us to have a look at what's going on and find a better long-term solution to this, " Henderson added. "We want it to run well and we want it to run safely, and I think that's what everybody wants. and if this is the step we have to take to get there, then I think that's where we're at."

"This is a shock for the whole city and the whole community," Mrdjenovich said.

"It's shocking that this decision was made without anyone approaching me for my opinion when I've had, out of 49 fights, probably 38 of them in Edmonton."

The call for a provincial commissionridiculous, she added.

"It's going to be years before that happens. It will just make things more difficult."

The combative sports commission itself said it respects the city's decision.