Joel Goldenberg – The Suburban LJI Reporter
Hampstead council unanimously, by individual voice vote, passed bylaws imposing penalties for removing any signage approved by the town on public property, and for certain actions related to any demonstrations in the town.
The final signage bylaw was passed at a special council meeting Nov. 20, which is also when it came into effect. This and the Nov. 14 council meeting had much police attendance — The Suburban was the only attendee other than council and staff at the Nov. 20 meeting.
“While the signage bylaw is in relation to pro-Hamas individuals in many cities removing posters of hostages held by the terrorist group, the bylaw itself does not specifically refer to those posters,” the Mayor said at the Nov. 14 council meeting, where he also referred to Hamas as a “genocidal maniac terrorist group.” The town itself has put up posters on Fleet and Queen Mary Roads, and Levi urged others to put up posters of hostages.
The signage bylaw’s wording is “any act of breaking, altering, removing or displacing, without prior authorization from the town, a sign, notice, board or placard installed on public property constitutes a nuisance and is prohibited.” The fine is $1,000 for a first offence and $2,000 for a second offence.
“There will not be any warnings, there will not be any exceptions,” Levi said. “This law will be fully applied” and enforced by Public Security and the SPVM.
The Mayor said that if it was up to the town, the fine would be even higher.
“But $1,000 is the maximum we’re allowed to do. Also, it’s not part of the law, but you have unanimous commitment from everyone here that every single dollar that’s collected from this will go straight to Israel. For anybody who is thinking about doing anything stupid in our town, you think you’re helping your cause? You’re actually helping Israel. The next day, two posters will go up for every one that is taken down.”
Levi also condemned the fact that Montreal city workers and independent contractors are taking down the hostage posters.
“It’s a complete disgrace. And to Mayor Valérie Plante, I think it’s disgusting that you’re actually endorsing the taking down of these posters. Really, you should be ashamed of yourself for doing that.”
The second draft bylaw passed at the Nov. 14 meeting and passed in its final version Nov. 20 says that assemblies, parades or other gatherings may not be held if they “disturb the peace, public order or public safety,” “promote, glorify or threaten violence, hatred based on racial, ethnic, religious or other prohibited motives of discrimination, war crimes and terrorist acts.” A peace officer is also authorized to declare the event illegal according to the provisions of the bylaw.
Also prohibited is the molesting or jostling of citizens or obstructing their movement, and carrying or having, “without a reasonable excuse, a blunt instrument that is not used for the purposes for which it is intended,” such as a baseball bat, hockey stick or any other sticks or bats.
The fine for contravening the bylaw is $1,000 for a person, and $2,000 for a legal person (such as an organization), and a second conviction results in a $2,000 fine for a natural person and $4,000 for a legal person. n