After a relatively brief change in policy, the City of Salmon Arm will once again be allowing non-commercial advertising on its bus benches.
Reverting to its previous policy was in response to complaints from the Shuswap Pro-Life Society and the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms.
President of the society, Hildegard Krieg, wrote to council on April 18, 2022, stating that for the previous 14 years, the society had been advertising on the city香蕉视频直播檚 transit benches 香蕉视频直播渢o promote public awareness of the sanctity of life.香蕉视频直播�
On Dec. 31, 2021, the society was told by the city香蕉视频直播檚 contractor that advertising on the bus benches was restricted to commercial advertising and, on April 2, 2022, the society香蕉视频直播檚 advertising was removed, she wrote.
Krieg said it is not constitutional to prohibit non-commercial advertising on government-owned transit facilities.
The city responded that the limiting of advertising on city bus benches to commercial-only is being applied fairly and consistently and does not represent a radical frustration of the society香蕉视频直播檚 right to expression, as there are many other ways to express the society香蕉视频直播檚 message.
The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms then wrote to the city on behalf of Krieg and the pro-life society, requesting that the city 香蕉视频直播渃ease interference with Ms. Krieg香蕉视频直播檚 constitutional right to freedom of expression on City bus benches.香蕉视频直播�
It said if the city refused, a court petition would be filed challenging the constitutionality of the city香蕉视频直播檚 policy and decision. The centre also provided a couple of court cases supporting its argument.
On June 20, the city sent an email to the Justice Centre香蕉视频直播檚 lawyer, stating it will not be enforcing the aspect of the Transit Bus Benches Advertising Agreement that requires advertising on the bus benches to be 香蕉视频直播榗ommercial advertising.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淎s such, so long as the advertising otherwise meets the requirements of the Agreement and is approved by the contractor, the City will not refuse the advertising.香蕉视频直播�
The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms stated on its website that on June 21, 2022, the city accepted Krieg香蕉视频直播檚 request to reinstate Shuswap Pro-Life Society香蕉视频直播檚 advertisements.
The city told Black Press it would not be providing a statement on the issue.
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