Charlottetown hot dog vendor's curfew complaint triggers bylaw review

After a hot dog vendor fired up protest about a controversial curfew on downtown food vendors, the mayor of Charlottetown says he wants to test the appetite for change.

A bylaw amendment passed a year ago in response to noise complaints at the time now requires street vendors to shut down at midnight.

Anthony Suarez has started a petition to review the mandatory closing time.

"I am asking city council and the mayor to change the bylaw that requires me to close at midnight. I would like to stay open until 2:30 in the morning."

Suarez has gathered more than 150 names on his petition.

The campaign has also taken off on social media, including Twitter, where the hashtag #freethemeat has taken on new meaning.

Social media backlash

Mayor Clifford Lee says he has taken note of the social media comments. He says council has agreed to a special meeting soon to revisit the decision.

"Anytime I get feedback from the community in large amounts, such as we have as in this particular instance, I would ask council to reconsider the decision that was made and either reaffirm that decision or change the decision."

CBC News contacted several Charlottetown councillors about the street-vendor curfew. Not one said they had received any calls from residents, either for or against. But some did say they want more information about how and why the midnight curfew came to be in the first place.

Suarez says he takes heart from council's willingness to revisit the curfew.

He says he intends to present the petition to the mayor before council meets.