Moncton may ban giving money to panhandlers

Moncton politicians are considering a new bylaw that would not just outlaw panhandlers from asking for money, but also ban people from giving it to them.

City councillors recommended at a meeting earlier this weekthat city staff look intowhat other municipalities are doing about panhandlers.

Don MacLellan, the general manager of community safety services for the City of Moncton, said the proposal is only a consideration at the moment.

Let's have a look at other bylaws across the country, you know has anybody taken that approach, is it an approach that Moncton would want to take, he said.

Some Moncton residents have complained about what they believe areaggressive tactics from downtown panhandlers.

"We'll go for lunch or go anywhere and we get harassed a lot, like, from the same guy,"he said.

"One time I went to the store, buddy asked me, gave him money, came out, he asked me again. They shouldn't be allowed to ask, but you should be able to give."

The proposal was getting mixed reviews from people walking downtown on Tuesday.

Several people said they would like some rules to control aggressive panhandlers but there was a concern the proposal may go too far.

If I want to give money to somebody that's a different story than getting bugged every time I come to work, said one man.

Meantime, MacLellan said the city is installing a cameraand the RCMP have two officers permanently situateddowntown this summer.

Monctonalready has a bylaw that prohibits panhandling. Itwas enacted in 2002.

Moncton isnt the only city that is being pressured to find a way to limit downtown panhandling.

Downtown Fredericton Inc., a business group in the capital city, said it has been receiving complaints from people about panhandlers. The groups general manager said aggressive panhandling can put a damper on shopping.

The business groupwould like to see a bylaw change that would create a distinction between panhandlers and buskers, who perform outside and seek donations.