Friday, June 27, 2014

City Statement Re: Leadercast Cancellation

Statement: City of Nanaimo Council’s Leadercast 2014 May 5th Decision




The City of Nanaimo wishes to clarify its position relating to the resolution that its elected Council passed on May 5, 2014 and the resulting cancellation of the Leadercast 2014 event that was scheduled at the City owned Vancouver Island Conference Centre (VICC).

During the week prior to May 5, City and VICC management received correspondence and phone calls from members of the public expressing concerns that the upcoming Leadercast event may promote sentiments that are offensive to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community.  In response to these concerns, on May 5, Council passed the following resolution: 

“It was moved and seconded that the City of Nanaimo advise the VICC that as owners of the facility, any events that are associated with organizations or people that promote or have a history of divisiveness, homophobia, or other expressions of hate not be permitted and as such, advise the VICC not to permit in a City owned facility, the upcoming Leadercast event that is scheduled for May 9, 2014.” 

With reflection and subsequent discussions with members of Nanaimo’s faith community, Nanaimo’s City Council regrets that its actions in passing the May 5 resolution has been perceived as being directed at or discriminatory against Christians or any other religious groups.  This was not the intent of the resolution and in no way reflects the beliefs and values of the City or its Council.

The City of Nanaimo and its Council fully support and are committed to upholding the fundamental rights and freedoms of all Canadians under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Human Rights Code

The City of Nanaimo and its Council also recognize that the values underlying the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Human Rights Code apply equally to the protection against discrimination of Canadians of all races, national or ethnic origin, colour, age, mental or physical disability, religions, sex and sexual orientation.

And finally, the City of Nanaimo and its Council recognize that the fundamental rights and freedoms under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Human Rights Code must sometimes be balanced between groups of Canadians having differing views and that the process of creating this balance is both challenging and complex.

Nanaimo’s Council accepts that, in passing the May 5 resolution, some Canadians support its actions while other Canadians do not.  However, if presented with comparable circumstances again, Nanaimo’s current Council is confident that actions similar to those taken on May 5 would not be repeated.

The City of Nanaimo and its Council strongly believe that Canadians of all races, national or ethnic origin, colour, age, mental or physical disability, religions, sex and sexual orientation are entitled to use any facility that is either owned by or in the control of the City in the same manner, subject always to the rule of law.

allvoices

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