Panhandling bylaws set for review in Saskatoon

Every morning, Spike leaves his bed at the Lighthouse Supported Living in downtown Saskatoon andputs on his thick overalls, sweater and ball cap before headingtowards the Midtown Plaza mall.

Once he finds a sunny spot, which on this day is on 2nd Avenue near the Plaza, he sits down and places his cap on the ground.

For the past six years, Spike has panhandled in downtown Saskatoon.

"Usually I just come and sit down here. I don't really ask for change. People will give me bills, if not loonies or toonies or quarters," Spike said."There's some days I can make up to 20bucks or some days I can get up to 30."

But soon, how Spike goes about asking for money could change.

We had reports from our community support supervisor that panhandling is becoming more aggressive and more group orientated.- Sarah Marchildon, executive director of the Broadway Business Improvement District

On Monday morning, Saskatoon's Street Activity SteeringCommittee will ask city officials to review the municipality's panhandling and street use bylaws.

The committee wants to make sure those who enforce the bylawsincludingpolice officers have the power to do so.

Sarah Marchildon,the executive director of the Broadway Business Improvement District, saysbusiness owners are concerned about the impact aggressive panhandling is having on their bottom lines.

"Their customers come in and complain that they're not enjoying their experience on the street. Customers think 'well, if this doesn't get fixed then I might not come here again,'" Marchildon said.

Stories like this from business owners on Broadway or inRiversdalegrabMarchildon'sattention.

"That's why we jump in as economic development groups for these areas, because we need to make the shopping experience good for people when they come," she said.

Group mentality

Spike sticks to himself when he panhandles throughout downtown Saskatoon. But he might soon be the exception, according to what Marchildon is hearing.

Marchildon said panhandlers are working together.

"We had reports from our community support supervisor that panhandling is becoming more aggressive and more group orientated," she said.

She added that these behaviours representsome of the "reasons why the Street Activity Steering Committee is approaching council to have that bylaw looked at again."

Marchildon notedthat panhandling is not illegal in Saskatoon and she's not surprised people are coming together to do it.

Spike has also seen panhandling become more aggressive. He's careful not to be loud when asking people to spare a dollar or two, especially after parking their vehicle.

"I see it quite often, panhandlers will say, 'well, hey buddy. Whereabouts is my loonie or toonie?'"

As people walked by for an afternoon of shopping, Spike pointed out why being aggressive towards people might not make sense from a panhandler's perspective.

"Nobody has to give you nothing," he said."Whether you're singing, busking or not singing, it's up to them. If they don't give you change, they don't have to."