Salmon Arm, BC, has scrapped its policy prohibiting political advertisements on bus benches after threat of legal action from the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF)..“Freedom of expression in Canada is not limited to commercial expression,” said JCCF lawyer Marty Moore in a Monday press release..“Citizens have the right to express their political and moral opinions publicly, and governments should respect that right without citizens having to resort to legal demands.”.The press release said the JCCF was representing Shuswap Pro-Life Society president Hildegard Krieg. For 14 years, the press release said the Shuswap Pro-Life Society has been advertising on Salmon Arm bus benches to promote pro-life ideas. .Salmon Arm enacted a policy restricting advertising for commercial purposes in 2021. This policy led to the city cancelling and removing pro-life advertisements in April by the Shuswap Pro-Life Society. .Salmon Arm refused Krieg’s request to comply with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and allow her to continue advertising. .Moore wrote a letter to Salmon Arm on behalf of Krieg later in April. .The letter said the Supreme Court of Canada has determined “government policies permitting commercial but not political advertising on transit property are unjustifiable limits on freedom of expression.” If the city refused to rescind its policy and allow the pro-life group to advertise on bus benches — the letter warned — the JCCF would take legal action against it. .Salmon Arm said it would be backing down on its policy on June 20. .“The City has determined that it will not be enforcing the aspect of the Transit Bus Benches Advertising Agreement that requires advertising on the bus benches to be ‘commercial advertising,’” it said. .Salmon Arm accepted the Shuswap Pro-Life Society’s advertisements on June 21. .“The Justice Centre is dedicated to ensuring that governments in Canada, including municipal governments, respect the Charter rights of their citizens,” said Moore. .This incident comes after a decision made in the US Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade ended 50 years of federal abortion rights. .The decision was released on Friday in a 6-3 vote abolishing the Roe v. Wade ruling. .The overruling was expected following an early leak of a draft prepared by Justice Samuel Alito in May..This is what the Western Standard is up againstThe Trudeau government is funding lies and propaganda by directly subsidizing the mainstream media. They do this to entrench the powerful Eastern, woke and corrupt interests that dominate the political, social and economic institutions in Canada. Federal authorities are constantly trying to censor us and stop us from publishing the stories that they don’t want you to read. Ottawa may weaponize our taxes and police against us, but we’ve got a powerful ally on our side.You. Free men, and free women. We need you to stand with us and become a member of the Western Standard. Here’s what you will get for your membership:Unlimited access to all articles from the Western Standard, Alberta Report, West Coast Standard, and Saskatchewan Standard, with no paywall. Our daily newsletter delivered to your inbox. .Access to exclusive Member-only WS events.Keep the West’s leading independent media voice strong and free.If you can, please support us with a monthly or annual membership. It takes just a moment to set up, and you will be making a big impact on keeping one the last independent media outlets in Canada free from Ottawa’s corrupting influence.
Salmon Arm, BC, has scrapped its policy prohibiting political advertisements on bus benches after threat of legal action from the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF)..“Freedom of expression in Canada is not limited to commercial expression,” said JCCF lawyer Marty Moore in a Monday press release..“Citizens have the right to express their political and moral opinions publicly, and governments should respect that right without citizens having to resort to legal demands.”.The press release said the JCCF was representing Shuswap Pro-Life Society president Hildegard Krieg. For 14 years, the press release said the Shuswap Pro-Life Society has been advertising on Salmon Arm bus benches to promote pro-life ideas. .Salmon Arm enacted a policy restricting advertising for commercial purposes in 2021. This policy led to the city cancelling and removing pro-life advertisements in April by the Shuswap Pro-Life Society. .Salmon Arm refused Krieg’s request to comply with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and allow her to continue advertising. .Moore wrote a letter to Salmon Arm on behalf of Krieg later in April. .The letter said the Supreme Court of Canada has determined “government policies permitting commercial but not political advertising on transit property are unjustifiable limits on freedom of expression.” If the city refused to rescind its policy and allow the pro-life group to advertise on bus benches — the letter warned — the JCCF would take legal action against it. .Salmon Arm said it would be backing down on its policy on June 20. .“The City has determined that it will not be enforcing the aspect of the Transit Bus Benches Advertising Agreement that requires advertising on the bus benches to be ‘commercial advertising,’” it said. .Salmon Arm accepted the Shuswap Pro-Life Society’s advertisements on June 21. .“The Justice Centre is dedicated to ensuring that governments in Canada, including municipal governments, respect the Charter rights of their citizens,” said Moore. .This incident comes after a decision made in the US Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade ended 50 years of federal abortion rights. .The decision was released on Friday in a 6-3 vote abolishing the Roe v. Wade ruling. .The overruling was expected following an early leak of a draft prepared by Justice Samuel Alito in May..This is what the Western Standard is up againstThe Trudeau government is funding lies and propaganda by directly subsidizing the mainstream media. They do this to entrench the powerful Eastern, woke and corrupt interests that dominate the political, social and economic institutions in Canada. Federal authorities are constantly trying to censor us and stop us from publishing the stories that they don’t want you to read. Ottawa may weaponize our taxes and police against us, but we’ve got a powerful ally on our side.You. Free men, and free women. We need you to stand with us and become a member of the Western Standard. Here’s what you will get for your membership:Unlimited access to all articles from the Western Standard, Alberta Report, West Coast Standard, and Saskatchewan Standard, with no paywall. Our daily newsletter delivered to your inbox. .Access to exclusive Member-only WS events.Keep the West’s leading independent media voice strong and free.If you can, please support us with a monthly or annual membership. It takes just a moment to set up, and you will be making a big impact on keeping one the last independent media outlets in Canada free from Ottawa’s corrupting influence.