City officials have dropped a ticket that accused Christian activists of harassing commuters at a northwest CTrain station.
The group had been handing out leaflets promoting their faith while addressing CTrain users on a walkway leading to Brentwood Station last May 8.
A press release from the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedom (JCCF), which provided pro bono legal advice to the defendants, states Calgary Transit officials confronted the activists, incorrectly assuming the group had been there the day before and had been warned.
They then issued a ticket to activist Levi Almond for improperly distributing printed material without the consent of the Calgary Transit Director.
That summons was a violation of Almond’s constitutional right to act peacefully, states the JCCF.
“In a free society, the government does not require citizens to obtain the prior approval of government officials of the contents of literature citizens want to distribute,” said the statement.
Said JCCF President John Carpay: “This was an unjustifiable limitation of Mr. Almond’s freedom of expression…it was also a limitation of his freedom of religion.”
Similar bylaws, said the JCCF, have been found unconstitutional in Quebec City that involved Jehovah’s Witness members handing out literature.
Calgary lawyer Carpay is well known for representing clients in freedom of speech and religion cases and for equating the rainbow pride flag with the swastika last year.
City officials weren’t available for comment.
on Twitter: @BillKaufmannjrn
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