The move by some Quebec towns to delay trick-or-treating for one day is proving to be divisive, with debate raging on social media under the hashtag #Halloweengate.
Communities began making the abrupt call on Wednesday as weather forecasters predicted heavy rains and high winds for the evening of Oct. 31.
It culminated with Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante tweeting that the nasty forecast was enough to ask parents and kids to wait one night to collect their candy.
Some parents in the province say they’re happy to stay indoors given the unpredictable weather, while others have compared moving the annual candy haul to sacrilege.
Now that's something I never thought I'd see. Some municipalities in Québec are moving this year's Halloween to tomorrow "for security reasons". It's raining.
Just…wow.
Where I come from, kids' costumes are made to be worn on top of snowsuits. Ridiculous.#halloweengate— Guillaume Labrie (@synth_synapses) October 31, 2019
What kind of a meddling nanny-state municipal government reschedules Halloween? Apparently, plenty. Children, rise up! It is your right and your duty to harrass neighbours for candy!
Hey, cities! Leave them kids alone! #halloweengate— Justine McIntyre (@JustineMTLMcI) October 31, 2019
Rain records expected to be broken this Oct. Environment Canada warns that "The ground, already near saturation, has little ability to absorb further rainfall." "Localized flooding in low-lying areas is possible. Heavy downpours can cause flash floods and water pooling on roads."
— Matthew Brett (@Matthew_Brett_) October 31, 2019
Decisions, decisions… #halloweengate pic.twitter.com/eQx7z7CaVo
— Steven Di Giovanni (@steveodigio) October 31, 2019
Quebec Premier Francois Legault steered clear of the discord, telling reporters he’d let municipalities decide how to deal with the matter.
Meantime, a small community in neighbouring may hold its Halloween celebrations indoors, with CTV reporting that a local business owner in Petitcodiac has offered her dance studio as a dry refuge for trick-or-treaters.
KEEP READING: The nutritionists’ case for not setting limits on Halloween candy
The Canadian Press
