Hamilton Police state on their website that “the messaging associated with DomCon is divisive and exclusionary and can negatively impact the sense of safety and belonging within our community.” Police “encourage venues to consider the impact this event and its messaging may have on the broader community when making decisions about hosting it” and ask people with information regarding a recent venue booking to contact Hamilton Police.
Police are reportedly visiting venues to “inform” people about the group.
Deploying police resources against a political organization based on that police force’s own political evaluation constitutes an improper use of law enforcement powers. The police should evaluate a group based on objectively reasonable concerns about public safety and criminal conduct. As reported by media sources, a police spokesperson confirmed that “At this time, the messaging associated with the event does not meet the threshold for criminal or unlawful activity.”
Police are required under the law to remain neutral as between competing political organizations provided these organizations do not engage in criminal activity or are not reasonably suspected of doing so. It is inappropriate for police to visit a business owner to discuss potential clients; this can reasonably be perceived as intimidation. Allowing police to apply their own political test before Canadians can engage in peaceful assembly and expression violates s. 2(b) and s.2(c) of the Charter. Groups with offensive, politically divisive, or dissenting beliefs are protected by the Charter.
Hellbound and Down 