It’s been another week in a political and emotional tailspin for the village of Harrison Hot Springs.
There’s been a lot of talk about about a cease and desist letter officials are preparing against a resident. During last week’s council meeting, it was reported that law firm Lidstone and Company asked council for more information on defamatory Facebook posts on one of our local social media groups. The letter stems back to a request from council back in February to send a cease and desist to a redacted resident to stop “posting derogatory comments against Council and staff” on Facebook and asked for the resident to be banned from posting on said group.
There’s been renewed outcry that this move by certain members of council creates a dangerous precedent for democracy by suppressing freedom of expression, as outlined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
While it’s easy to jump on that bandwagon, is this indeed illegal suppression? Well, it’s a little more complicated than it seems.
No, that sentiment is not accurate in the fact that there are restrictions on freedom of expression in Canada. Multiple sources, including the Centre for Free Expression and Canadian Civil Liberties Association, state that civil defamation or libel actions are one of several restrictions on said freedom; other examples include hate speech and municipal bylaws that regulate where signage can be posted and protests can take place.
Now, as to whether or not the comments involved are indeed libelous, it is ultimately up to Lidstone and Company to determine if there’s a case. If there’s a case, then the restriction might apply. If not, perhaps not.
Even if allegedly libelous statements are not covered under freedom of expression, the village’s proposed actions back in February could still set a problematic precedent. One could argue banning this resident from the rather large Facebook group would be a bridge too far. While this doesn’t hinder the resident or residents in question from starting a brand new Facebook group through which to channel their (hopefully) non-libelous grumblings, uprooting them from an established, reliable community forum because they’re saying something you don’t like is unbecoming of village administration.
I’m not denying your right to be angry about this entire situation. I absolutely understand what you’re feeling. I’m merely suggesting that this frustration is valid but a bit inaccurate.
So let’s all take a deep, collective breath and continue to hold our local politicians’ feet to the fire. The vitriolic political discourse and consequential lack of action by village officials is deeply embarrassing and all of them deserve to be held to account. Write letters. Protest. Ask questions at council meetings. Exercise your freedoms, but do it the right way.
And to you, mayor and council, I agree with Coun. Allen Jackson that it’s time to “get on with it.” It’s been months, countless weeks of potential productivity that we will never get back. It’s time to stop the childish bickering, the time-wasting editorialized tirades and the petty behaviour. You’re well overdue to grow up and face the village’s issues head-on and quickly. You know very well that it’s taking the low road to nowhere when you get wrapped up in personal rivalries. Your behaviour is self-serving and myopic, and the village you swore to serve is suffering for it.
Respectfully, get a grip.