Instead, Saskatoon's city administration is recommending a $50,000 study that will include interviews with panhandlers and business owners this summer and a look at how other cities are tackling begging, with an action plan ready by the end of fall.
"A ban must be the last possible option," said city solicitor Theresa Dust, a member of the city's panhandling task force, who brought forward the recommendations.
"It's very hard to create a solution if you don't know what the problem is."
Saskatoon already has bylaws in place governing aggressive panhandling, but some councillors asked if passive panhandling could be outlawed in Saskatoon's downtown and surrounding areas.
"In our opinion, in order to have a chance at justifying a total ban (under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms) . . . council needs significantly more evidence on what the problem is, what the alternatives to banning are and what has been done to test the potential successes of those alternatives," the city solicitor says in a report to council.
The study will identify areas where panhandling is occurring and will interview store owners, homeless people and panhandlers to see "if there are things which can be done which would have them leave the street." The study will also review busking laws and look at people's perceptions of street safety, the report says.
Coun. Myles Heidt, who suggested the widespread ban, supported the evidence-based research approach, but said much of the problems facing panhandlers and homeless people are self-evident.
"If we don't know now, I'm not sure what a task force will do," he said.
Heidt said the answer may lie in an approach similar to Calgary's, where an enforcement officer can hand out tickets but can also put the person in touch with a street outreach program.
Saskatoon is dealing with many of the same issues boom-era Calgary did with an incoming population seeking opportunity, officials say.
Marjaleena Repo, a social justice advocate, told the city's administration and finance committee Monday that panhandling is a "manufactured problem" with no evidence to suggest it merits more regulation.
"This whole thing is confrontational to a population that is helpless," she said.
A proposed ban on panhandling within eight metres of liquor stores was supported by the committee Monday.
Randy Pshebylo, executive director of the Riversdale Business Improvement District, said many people want the liquor store on 20th Street closed because of the lingering problem of aggressive panhandling.
"The knee-jerk reaction would be to close the liquor store," he said. "We have to tackle the complete problem."
The recommendations require council approval April 4..."read here
Busker in article. Is busking the same as panhandling? Should you see Shea busking in downtown Saskatoon throw your spare change his way.
"If Tomorrow Never Comes"- Shea Greyeyes
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