Panhandlers could face fines in Salmon Arm

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Salmon Arm Mayor Alan Harrison said the bylaw came about because of the city’s lack of a solicitation bylaw.

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“Salmon Arm was one of the very few cities in the Okanagan without a solicitation bylaw, we relied on the safe streets act up until we did our own bylaw. Kelowna, Vernon, Kamloops all have bylaws,” he said, adding that the city had been looking at a solicitation bylaw for about one year before implementing one in May.

Concerns from local business owners also spurred the movement, with some concerned about panhandlers soliciting too close to their businesses.

At their July 8 council meeting Coun. Sylvia Lindgren voted against the amendment.

“I have a different opinion in that I don’t see how fining people that live on the streets is going to help, I don’t know if they’ll be able to pay the fine,” she said.

Since the initial solicitation bylaw was passed in May, Mayor Harrison told Vernon Matters that the reaction has been mixed.

“I would say there is support in the community for the bylaw, and there’s also people who don’t support it,” he said.

Council said the fines will be used only in extreme circumstances and not as a measure to criminalize poverty.