Taber’s new Community Standards bylaw continues to create controversy. The bylaw includes bans on yelling, screaming or swearing in public and a curfew for anyone under the age of 16. Reaction on social media has been overwhelmingly negative, some people going so far as to call the town a ‘police state’. Others say the bylaw is a conspiracy against the local Mexican Mennonite community, a charge Taber Police Chief Alf Rudd denies.
“The suggestion that the bylaw is targeting a specific identifiable group in the community is unfair and disrespectful,” said Rudd.
Tina Klassen opened a Mexican restaurant on Main Street a few years ago. Since then, she claims she has been threatened, called names and even had her vehicle vandalized simply because of her background.
“I know they have hurt me a lot since I have opened up this restaurant. Lots of people calling me names, and spread rumours, and it hurts me,” said Klassen.
Susi Peters relocated from Mexico to Taber in 2004. She says there is a small group tainting the image of the Mexican Mennonite population, saying “I personally want to be a part of Taber. It’s my community. I want to be the person who inspires a community in a positive way. I want my children to feel they belong. This is our home, this is where we belong.”
Taber police have scheduled a public information session on Friday, March 13 at 5:30pm at the police station. They will be answering questions about the bylaw and the police service’s approach to enforcing it.
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