Toronto councillor to table motion making it legal to drink in parks
On a sunny day in a Toronto park, Rachel Myers is having a drink to celebrate her 24th birthday with a friend. She is not worried about getting a ticket.
Holding her can up she says, "I think it's pretty self explanatory. Everybody drinks anyway."
Currently, Myers could be fined $300 by police. Councillor Josh Matlow says the law should be changed and Rachel should be able to drink in peace.
"It's also just an archaic, ridiculous rule," Matlow said.
This week, Matlow is tabling a motion that would make it legal to drink in public spaces like a park or a beach.
"What I'm saying is, that I'm hearing from Torontonians who want to act responsibly, have a drink or two with a friend or a member of their family, and do it in an outdoor space," he said.
Matlow has tried a similar motion last year, but the pilot project was rejected in committee.
Walking around Trinity Bellwoods park Tuesday afternoon, many residents seemed to think that changing the law is the right thing to do.
"I think it's about time. I think that the law currently in place it's just antiquated, its archaic and people have been doing this for a ver long time," Tom Ruminski said.
Another resident compared allowing drinking in parks to the legalization of cannabis.
"I think it's pretty obvious that a lot of people are doing it. It's not really harming anybody," Tristan Forage said.
Ambre Le Moynge is visiting from Paris, where drinking up parks is legal. When asked if she thinks the law here is strange, she said "Yes."
"Usually when we are with friends, we usually bring beers or something to enjoy together.
While the popular sentiment may be that the current law against drinking in parks or on beaches may be out of date, there's also concern over the unintended consequences that could arise if the law were to change.
On Monday Mayor John Tory said, "we have to find a way in particular to address the big parties which have been a serious problem, resulting in a lot of complaints to my office. Even as someone who supports a slightly more flexible attitude."
In May 2020, Trinity Bellwoods Park became the scene of many large parties, often where police simply where overwhelmed.
Living across the street from the park, Mia Fernandes remembers those parties well.
"People being really rude, peeing at the houses, leaving their garbage everywhere and it used to be never like that before," she said.
Fernandes says that despite the experience, the law should allow for responsible use.
"I don't see a problem, why not. I'm from Germany and it's totally normal there to drink in public," she says.
Councillor Matlow says there are already rules in place for disorderly behaviour.
If the motion passes, drinking in parks could come as soon as this summer.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.
Air France flight from Paris to Seattle lands in Iqaluit after heat smell in cabin
A plane travelling from Paris to Seattle was forced to make an emergency landing in Iqaluit after there was a heat smell in the cabin during the flight.