Niagara city council has approved a new change to the proposed bylaw banning signs, flags, placards and props at meetings.
Regional Coun. Joyce Morocco provided an amendment to the act, saying such signage and props would be permitted, so long as they do not contain defamatory or offensive language, hate speech, and they do not disrupt council meetings.
Advocacy group Canadian Constitutional Foundation voiced concerns about the previous by-law, saying it violated the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
The litigation director, Christine Van Geyn, welcomes the new changes, but says it’s still not right.
“This whole motion of what is offensive is too subjective to be incorporated into the language of the bylaws,” she said.
But, some members say after instances in the past where signs were disruptive and abusive, they are hoping this will provide a more positive solution than an all-out ban.
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