Is curtailing free speech and censoring blasphemous language in public spaces a relic of the past or something that must be upheld to maintain public decorum?
The Canadian Constitution Foundation (CCF) thinks the former. Earlier this week, 乌鸦传媒渢he charity dedicated to defending constitutional rights and freedoms乌鸦传媒� awarded its inaugural Municipal Muzzle Award, calling out municipal bylaws across the country that restrict free expression.
Although Calgary took top spot for its 乌鸦传媒淥rwellian-named乌鸦传媒� Safe and Inclusive Access Bylaw, the organization gave an honourable mention to a 1997 Saanich bylaw among 80 communities across Canada.
Section 15 of the district乌鸦传媒檚 Park Management and Control Bylaw prohibits 乌鸦传媒減rofane swearing or indecent, obscene, blasphemous, or grossly insulting language乌鸦传媒� in parks and on beaches.
Coun. Teale Phelps-Bondaroff, who welcomed the news with a laugh, agreed with the CCF乌鸦传媒檚 stance.
乌鸦传媒淲hen I first was elected to Saanich council, I reviewed all of the important bylaws in the district, and I also noticed that it is technically prohibited to blaspheme in Saanich parks, and that of course is just unconstitutional,乌鸦传媒� he said. "It's something that should not be in our bylaws and it's been on my to-do list to change.乌鸦传媒�
The longtime advocate for secularism and government neutrality believes the term "blasphemy" 乌鸦传媒� the act of speaking sacrilegiously about God or sacred things 乌鸦传媒� is antiquated and belongs in the archives of the past.
乌鸦传媒淲e as a municipality do not have the ability to determine what constitutes blasphemy,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淭herefore, it would be impossible for us to enforce this specific bylaw.乌鸦传媒�
乌鸦传媒淲e can't get involved in issues relating to religion; the state has to abstain from making judgments in that respect.乌鸦传媒�
The councillor also noted the bylaw乌鸦传媒檚 inherently 乌鸦传媒渋ncredibly subjective乌鸦传媒� nature, which makes its enforcement nearly impossible.
乌鸦传媒淭here's thousands of religions in the world, and some actions that are everyday practices for some folks would be considered blasphemous for other folks,乌鸦传媒� he said.
That said, Phelps Bondaroff agrees, to some extent, with the intent behind the regulation, which is ultimately aimed at maintaining public decorum in Saanich乌鸦传媒檚 public spaces.
乌鸦传媒淚t's entirely reasonable to have expectations on good behaviour for public spaces,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淲e want to make sure that our public spaces are welcoming to all people.乌鸦传媒�