Bill 13 suspends civil rights for the Olympics

Liberal bill restricting free speech during Olympics contravenes Charter of Rights.

BC Conservative Party President, Wayne McGrath, says Bill 13, an amendment to the Municipalities Enabling and Validating Act, would strip residents of Vancouver, Whistler and Richmond of their Section 2 Charter rights to freedom of speech and assembly.

“The Liberal government is more concerned about the Olympics running without dissent than protecting the basic rights of citizens in this Province”, charged McGrath.

The Bill Amendment, introduced on October 7, 2009, in the Legislature, would grant special powers to municipal officers to enter private property and seize signs not compliant with the so called “spirit” of the Olympic Games, as follows:

Amendments will provide the municipalities of Vancouver, Richmond and Whistler with temporary enforcement powers to enable them to swiftly remove illegal signs and graffiti during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The legislation provides, on a temporary basis, a faster way of removing signs and graffiti during the short period the Games are underway.

This law would be a “temporary” suspension of civil rights in the host cities of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, allowing officials to enter private homes and to seize unauthorized signage or anti-Olympic placards with just 24 hours notice.

“This is a very dangerous precedent law being passed under the noses of British Columbians,” said McGrath. “Many people are outraged at what the Liberal government is trying to get away with here.”

Those found in violation of these highly ambiguous laws will be subject to a $10,000 a day fine and six months in jail.

“The BC Conservative Party strongly urges the City Councils of Vancouver, Richmond and Whistler to reject the curtailing of civil rights during the Olympic Games,” said McGrath.

McGrath pointed out that even Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who was in Vancouver recently, took some time to speak out against the new bill amendment, “ I would not support any actions in the name of security that stifle political free expression. That is what our country is all about.”

It is unconstitutional to fine or jail people for expressing their thoughts and ideas, no matter how much they disagree with the decisions of the government,” concluded McGrath.

The BC Conservative party is calling for the amendment to be struck down, and for the municipalities hosting the Olympic Games to reject such ad hoc censorship brought about by the provincial Liberal government.

October 21, 2009
BC Conservative Party