THE  DEMOCRATIC  REPORTER


• Home • Table of Contents • General News •


YouTube  site
where my videos are posted


Pages  of  Special  Interest;

In Defence of Canadians Rights & Democracy


* Hazel McCallion - Mayor of Mississauga *
- 2009 -
* Conflict of Interest & Judicial Inquiry *


* Public Question Period Index *
!! A Mississauga Democratic Tradition Lost !!


• Defense Fund for Donald Barber •

• Sound Clip Gallery • Video Clip Gallery •

• Byron Osmond Pleas for Mercy • Peel police Wrong Doings •

• Hazel McCallion - Mayor of Mississauga - her Misdeeds • The Culham Brief •

• Order of Canada & its Corruption •

• End of Suburbia & Continuous Communities as the Solution - JOBS FOR LIFE •


Other  Table  of  Contents;
• Events • Archive of Links •
• Media - News Articles & Letters to Media • Literature & News Letters •

• Elections Results in Mississauga • Political History of Mississauga • Political, Democratic & Legal Issues •

• Political Methods • The Meaning of Words & Phrases • Political Satire & Parody •
• City Mississauga Committees • City Mississauga By-Laws & Policies •
• Security Insanity • Police Issues, Complaints & News Articles •
• FOI - Freedom of Information Results & Issues •
• Legal Issues • Unions Issues •

• Political Players & Persons of Interest • Ratepayers Groups & their Issues in Mississauga •



Scanned, recopied or Internet copy, if there are errors, please e-mail me with corrections:


Opening comments:  More at the end.

More about
Davin Charney.


The Record (KITCHENER) - Nov. 9, 2009 - By Terry Pender, Record staff - tpender@therecord.com

Activists will protest when
Olympic torch comes to town

Local activists say the organizers of the Vancouver Olympics are suppressing freedom of expression by attempting to ban “propaganda” from being displayed or distributed along the routes of the Olympic Torch Relay.

Adam Lewis of the group Anti-War @ Laurier and Davin Charney, a local lawyer specializing in civil liberties and human rights, appeared before city council Monday, saying the city must actively ensure their right to peaceful protest.

“When the torch is hosted in our City of Kitchener there will be a public demonstration of this opposition,” Lewis said in his presentation to city council.

The Olympic Torch Relay is scheduled to pass through Kitchener on Dec. 27.

“This will be a peaceful protest, however the tone of this gathering depends entirely on the degree of oppression exhibited by the City of Kitchener,” Lewis said.

Anti-War @ Laurier is protesting against the Games for several reasons — the escalating costs divert scarce public funds from social programs, First Nations in the Vancouver area feel their land claims are being trampled and preparations for the games have damaged environmentally sensitive landscapes.

In a July 7 letter to the anti-war group, the City of Kitchener said:  “While we respect the right to freedom of expression, we hope that Kitchener’s torch relay celebrations will be about sport, peace and the Olympic ideal.”

Saying that response was grossly inadequate, Lewis appeared before city council last night seeking stronger assurances that Anti-War @ Laurier will be allowed to peacefully protest and hand out literature on city property when the torch passes through here.

“There have not been adequate assurances that freedom of expression will be protected along the route of the torch as opposition arises,” Lewis said.

Mayor Carl Zehr said the city supports freedom of expression.

“I will publicly make a statement to you today that we will not take any steps from my office or from this council or from this city to restrict freedom of expression — period, end of story.  We will simply not do that,” Zehr said.

About a dozen members of Anti-War @ Laurier attended the council meeting.

“I would expect any protest to be peaceful, as you say it will be, and that will be respected,” Zehr said.  “Beyond that it is out of the city’s hands.  Should it go beyond that there are other authorities that will come into play.”

In his presentation to city council, Charney said the activists hope the torch relay through the city will be an event that allows everybody to express what they feel the Olympics are about.

Specifically, Charney asked city council to reject the guidelines issued by the Vancouver Olympics Organizing Committee that ban the display or distribution of what it calls “propaganda” during the torch relay.

“I understand what you are saying,” Zehr said.  “We will take a look at it again and we will respond back to you.”

Zehr said city councilors need additional information before responding.

“We have an agreement with (the Vancouver Olympics Organizing Committee) and I have to understand what the implications are related to the point that you ask,” Zehr said.

Coun. John Gazzola said he didn’t understand what the activists wanted. Freedom of expression is guaranteed for everyone, Gazzola said.

“We have no jurisdiction over freedom of expression,” Gazzola said.

“The mayor has publicly assured you in front of a TV audience that you will be allowed your full freedom of expression,” Gazzola said.

But Charney said the city has jurisdiction because many events will take place on city property.

“So if direction is to be given to enforcement officials I expect it will be done by the city or this committee that is in part connected with the city,’ Charney said.

“I certainly would argue the city is responsible in part to protect people’s freedom of expression, and I guess I find it troubling that there can be a vague reassurance that the city will follow the Charter (of Rights and Freedoms), but not a specific guarantee that I will be able to hand out flyers at Olympic related events or have a sign,” Charney said.

“I hope you would be, personally I hope you would be able to do that, but I can’t speak on behalf of the city this evening given the documents you are referring to,” Zehr said in reference to the guidelines from the Olympic organizing committee.


Home Page   -  Main Table of  Contents  -  Back up a page  -   Back to Top


[COMMENTS BY DON B. -  ]



Your Financial Donations are Greatly Appreciated
and Very Much Needed to Ensure the Survival of
THE  DEMOCRATIC  REPORTER


The
Donald Barber Defense Fund
Needs help right now
&
Now Accepting Pay Pal.


• Home Page • Main Table of Contents •

Back to Top

• About This Web-Site & Contact Info •