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.
