A City of Calgary bylaw that puts a buffer between protesters and drag events is facing a legal challenge over whether a municipal government has the power to enact such rules.
In March, the Safe and Inclusive Access bylaw was passed to address escalating protests at drag events, including a number of Reading with Royalty events at Calgary libraries.
The bylaw prohibits certain types of protests within 100 metres of an entrance to a city-owned recreation facility or library. The city says it established access zones so people are able to access public services and facilities without being “exposed to messaging or behaviour that is hateful, intimidates, harasses, or discriminates.”
The bylaw will be looked at in a judicial review in February 2025, after a constitutional challenge was filed in May. The Canadian Constitution Foundation, which filed the challenge, said it’s part of their mandate to defend fundamental freedoms.
Yet the anti abortion protesters set up every year at the universities, forcing students to walk past graphic imagery on their way to class. If they don’t address that with this then this is useless.
The Canadian Constitution Foundation advertises itself as a bi-partisan entity but the proof is in the pudding …
This is the best summary I could come up with:
A City of Calgary bylaw that puts a buffer between protesters and drag events is facing a legal challenge over whether a municipal government has the power to enact such rules.
The bylaw prohibits certain types of protests within 100 metres of an entrance to a city-owned recreation facility or library.
The Canadian Constitution Foundation, which filed the challenge, said it’s part of their mandate to defend fundamental freedoms.
In an emailed statement, the group’s executive director, Joanna Baron, said the bylaw got their attention “as it is an obvious infringement of the right to free expression.”
Yoav Niv, an Alberta criminal regulatory lawyer who represents that group, said they will challenge whether a municipal government has the ability to enact this type of bylaw.
“Since they aren’t allowed to be right in front of wherever we are doing a 2SLGBTQ event, it has made it a lot safer for people to enter,” Onyou said.
The original article contains 669 words, the summary contains 155 words. Saved 77%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!
