Discussions

By-Law change  
 
 
At the last city council meeting a By-Law was slipped through with out a third reading at the end of the meeting to alien with the favorable acceptance of the Minimum Wage raise on April 1st.  
 
 
In my opinion this By-Law smacks of the abuse of civil liberties, and should be eliminated from our community. Please contact your local representative and ask that this By-Law be rescinded as soon as possible.  
 
 
The By-Law reads as follows:  
 
 
NOTICE OF MOTION  
 
 
TITLE  
 
 
Establishment to changes to by-law # 1-4-5507  
 
 
PRESENTER: council at large.  
 
 
SUMMERY OF HISTORY  
 
 
In accordance with Rule 61 of procedure By-Law No. 1407 council gave notice of introduction of the following notice:  
 
 
RECOMMENDATION:  
 
 
WHEREAS it has been apparent for some years that members of the driving public have been observed driving with smiles on their faces.  
 
 
WHEREAS this situation has to be terminated to protect other citizens who do not drive in this manner.  
 
 
WHEREAS this “happy condition” causes the driver of a vehicle to loose concentration and to be involved in an accident, or to cause an accident.  
 
 
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the city of Brandon issues a camera to all Bye-law enforcement officers, and a sample picture booklet.  
 
 
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the above said Officers will pull along side of a suspected offender, give three toots on their car horn, and take a picture when the driver turns his/her head to-wards the officer, this picture is to be compared by the officer to the approved sample booklet.  
 
 
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a scale of fines be established:  
 
1. $5 for a broad smile.  
2. $10 for a chuckle  
3. $20 for laughing and tapping on the steering wheel in time to music.  
 
 
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Bye-law is enforced from 12:01 a.m. April 1st 2007 until 11:59 a.m. April 1st 2007.  
 
 
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a sub committee tabulate all complaints from this APRIL FOOLS day prank and deposit them into file #13.  
 
 
There was never a first April Fools Day or All fools day, but it evolved simultaneously in several cultures from celebrations for the first day of spring. The first recorded evidence of this tradition goes back to France in 1582. Before this time the New Year was celebrated from March 25th until April 1st, but when the calendar was reformed under Charles IX and the Gregorian calendar was introduced, New Years Day was moved to January 1st.  
 
In those days most people traveled by foot, and the change was not well known for years. Others refused to make the change and still had their New Year on April 1st. These folk were considered “fools” by all others in the community, and were subject to ridicule, they were often sent on fools errands and suffered practical jokes.  
 
This tradition of prank playing spread to England and Scotland in the 18th century, and eventually to Canada with the early settlers. April Fools Day is a for-fun-only day of observance.  
 
Nobody is expected to buy gifts or take their significant other out to eat in a fancy restaurant. Nobody has a day off from work or school, every one has to remain vigilant for the early hours of April 1st, or become the next April fool.