Unanimous Vote Rescinds Motion
A contrite sounding city council unanimously passed a motion to rescind the following motion:
“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 2014-MAY-09. The motion carried.
Opposed: Councillor McKay”
A brief recap of the motion that led to such misadventure:
Council passed a motion cancelling a Leadercast leadership simulcast on May 5th which had been scheduled for May 9th in the VICC due to concern in the local gay community that the owner of one of the sponsors did not support gay marriage. No consideration or cautions came for the professionals we have on staff at city hall.
Turns out this was a direct violation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and was very offensive to the local Christian community, who voiced that oppositon to city council, and actually appeared at a COW meeting on June 16 asking for an apology and that the motion be rescinded. They were met with silence from city council at that time.
Sun Media personality Ezra Levant got wind of what he classified as an assault on Christianity and Christian's rights to express their believes. After the airing of a 45 minute show on Sun TV, city council finally released an apology, of sorts.
Now having a real cause to champion, Levant took dead aim at city council and raised money to fund a lawsuit. As a result of his program, the whole thing went international and viral on the internet with Nanaimo being declared a Christian bashing bunch of homophobic bullies.
City Council still remained mute only saying they couldn't rescind the May 5th motion for some reason or other.
On July 2, Levant came to Nanaimo and on the lawn at city hall had a protest meeting which was recorded to be part of a future broadcast. He was calling for an apology and the rescinding of the motion. The same day the National Post picked up the whole story as well. That same night, city council called a special meeting of council for July 3 to rescind the motion.
This whole fiasco raises many, many questions not the least of which is just exactly how qualified are all those highly paid 'professional' staff we have on payroll at city hall?
It is unfair to blame staff for this fiasco. One councillor walked into a meeting armed with prejudice and a new agenda item. The other bigots on council piled on and could care less that Leadercast organizers were not given a chance to speak. They were warned by Mr. McKay but ignored the warning. This all hangs on the gang of 8 councillors.
ReplyDeleteCity staff including Mr. Swabey, Mr. Howat, Mr. Jackson are always providing council with 'professional' advice on all matters. I do not believe that staff and council were not aware of the motion before it was put on the table. Surely it is incumbent on these professionals to steer council clear of impending disaster by applying their superior knowledge of such matters and not sit idly by and watch a train wreck.
ReplyDeleteThank goodness!
ReplyDeleteHow's this for depicting the way things are done in Nanaimo. The teleconference may have been cancelled BEFORE Council passed the motion!!!!!!! I would love to get information about what was said as between City staff and the Daily News but I suppose that is all top secret stuff too.
ReplyDeleteMore secrecy? More lies?
DeleteWhere was Coun. Anderson? I do not believe he was at this very important meeting.
ReplyDeleteDid he NOT want to rescind the motion, therefore he did not show up to take the "heat".
We need answers!
Come on. If you're gonna allow hacking of the council members for not being there, at least approve my comment as to why.
DeleteGeorge Anderson is on stress leave. Why do you think that is?