Councillor Amber Morley says it’s important to acknowledge the value of protests. “I want to take a moment to acknowledge the protestors who have peacefully exercised their right to assemble, raising their voices to advocate for justice within the boundaries of the law.”
Councillor James Pasternak moves for the city to develop a “policy framework for the management and monitoring of rallies and protests.” He says this isn’t ideological and isn’t about the Middle East. He says it’s about ensuring residents can live in “peace and security.”
Councillor Paula Fletcher says Pasternak’s motion seems to be “a motion in search of a problem.” Pasternak disagrees. He says it’s important for protestors to know that doing things like blocking a highway is illegal.
I gather Pasternak is imagining a scenario where a protest organizer notifies City Hall that they’re planning a protest, the city provides the protestor with a list of rules about noise and blocking streets, and the protestor dutifully complies.
Councillor Perks asks Pasternak what value this motion has, given bylaw enforcement officers don’t have the power to step in during protests. Pasternak says he trusts staff to come up with a good policy that “strikes a balance” between criminal code issues and bylaw issues.
“Are we going to put our city in a position where we’re starting to pass bylaws that are found unconstitutional?” wonders Councillor Alejandra Bravo. “This isn’t right. We have to be able to say what we feel. Protests and rallies are the way that things have changed in society.”
Nunziata says she’ll the support the Pasternak motion. She says she’s fine with protests, but when protestors shut down streets and highways they go too far. “You don’t allow people to get home!” she says.
“If you undermine the right to protest, you undermine democracy. There is no democracy without the right to protest,” says Councillor Perks. “That is the most fundamental truth you need to know to be here in this chamber. And if you don’t know it, you’re a danger to democracy.”
Councillor Stephen Holyday moves to recognize that it’s the police who handle enforcement at protests and as such council should “adequately fund the police to carry out the work.”
Councillor James Pasternak’s motion to develop a “policy and framework for the management and monitoring of rallies and protests” CARRIES 13-11. Chow in favour.
Councillor Holyday’s motion to recognize the importance of funding the police to do enforcement at protests CARRIES 18-6.
Not only did Mayor Olivia Chow support this, at odds with most of her allies, she ended up as the deciding vote. A 12-12 vote would have seen the motion lose.
Not only did Mayor Olivia Chow support this, at odds with most of her allies, she ended up as the deciding vote. A 12-12 vote would have seen the motion lose.