Move targets squeegee kids

Squeegee kids on busy street corners could be driven away by new provincial legislation introduced today.

The issue has been a growing concern at city hall, where the request for a Safe Streets Act was made more than two years ago.

The biggest population of squeegee kids in Halifax is at the Willow Tree, the five-pronged intersection that marries Quinpool and Bell roads with Robie and Cogswell streets.

But other pockets of panhandlers have been cropping up on Bayers Road and Connaught Avenue, the area councillor said Thursday.

"It’s intrusive for our motorists for them to be there," Coun. Sue Uteck (Northwest Arm-South End) said in an interview.

"But it’s gotten to the point where the boulevards are ruined, fights have broken out, and motorists are being screamed at and their windshields pounded on. It’s enough."

As a result, the councillor says she’s "thrilled" that the province is finally moving ahead on a request introduced by regional council in June 2005.

At the time, Halifax was eyeing provinces like British Columbia and Ontario where violators can be fined up to $115. If someone becomes a persistent threat, he or she could wind up in jail.

The councillor, who represents downtown Halifax, said street-side panhandling has really become an issue over the last few years.

And while Coun. Dawn Sloane isn’t privy to the government’s proposal, she says she’s looking forward to seeing something put in place.

"People are concerned because they are dashing out in front of cars, walking around in traffic and that is unsafe.

"We tell our children not to do it, yet we see adults doing it all the time."

Thursday’s speech from the throne said legislation will be introduced to "make our streets safer by dealing with crosswalk safety, soliciting on public roadways and street racing."

Transportation Minister Murray Scott said he has several amendments to the Motor Vehicle Act he plans to introduce this morning, but didn’t want to give any details Thursday.

"I’m concentrating my efforts now on less distractions for drivers, (and I) also want to talk about education of drivers and pedestrians," he said at Province House.

Liberal Leader Stephen McNeil said the Tories are ignoring the reason why squeegee kids are there in the first place.

"We’ll be pushing the government to deal with the real issue and that’s the issue of poverty and how we as a province move forward and handle it," the Grit said. Halifax’s anti-poverty coalition has said for years that Safe Street Laws have devastating effects on homeless people and the poor.

A squeegee kid at the Willow Tree Thursday afternoon said he’ll probably keep panhandling at the busy intersection even if it becomes illegal.

"I already have about $30,000 in fines from standing in traffic anyway," said Michael, who didn’t want to give his last name.

Intersections are "pretty much" the only place he can make any money, he said.

"When you are panhandling on the street, people don’t want to stop but here they have to."

Opposition Leader Darrell Dexter said the focus on squeegee kids is a strange priority for the government to have.

"There’s probably a couple of dozen of them in the city at best," he said.

"I think some people think of them as a nuisance. I don’t necessarily (see) them as any kind of a threat."

He questioned how much money would have to be spent on enforcement.

"What are they going to do, jail them? Fine them? They are poor people who are often on the margins of society," the NDP leader said.