More is at stake here than the political drama of a council majority simply striking out at seven Surrey residents by asking a judge to prohibit them from attending council meetings.

Former Surrey mayor Bose Bose says it香蕉视频直播檚 a test case which, if the City of Surrey香蕉视频直播檚 petition to the court is successful, will have serious ramifications for democracy at the civic level in Canada.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 an outrageous overkill,香蕉视频直播� Bose told the Now-Leader. 香蕉视频直播淲hat have these seven senior citizens done? They香蕉视频直播檝e done absolutely nothing; they香蕉视频直播檙e being accused of all kinds of things.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淭his thing is totally out of hand,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚 understand for the seven to respond, they would incur tens of thousands of dollars in legal costs. Nobody香蕉视频直播檚 going to do it pro bono.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淚n my opinion this is a test case that deals with the powers of council to prohibit participation. It香蕉视频直播檚 draconian,香蕉视频直播� Bose said. 香蕉视频直播淭he respondents need to have legal representation. It香蕉视频直播檚 far more than a case where I香蕉视频直播檓 putting on a square-foot addition to my house without permits and in violation of a zoning bylaw. For this matter to be fairly adjudicated, the respondents need to respond, and they need to have adequate legal counsel to respond properly. It香蕉视频直播檚 a serious matter and it needs to be seriously adjudicated.香蕉视频直播�

A petition to the court was filed by Lidstone & Company on behalf of the City of Surrey on Oct. 18, at the B.C. Supreme Court registry in Vancouver, asking the court to prohibit seven Surrey residents 香蕉视频直播渇rom physically attending City of Surrey Council and Committee meetings in person, until Council determines otherwise香蕉视频直播ο憬妒悠抵辈��

The respondents named in the petition are Annie Kaps, Debbie (Debi) Johnstone, Colin Pronger, Ivan Scott, Merle (Meryl) Scott, Marilyn Smith and Linda Ypenburg. They have 21 days to respond.

香蕉视频直播淭he respondents are regularly opposed to the policy decisions of the City香蕉视频直播檚 Mayor and Council and have regularly made this opposition known through written correspondence and submissions to Council and City staff, as well as attending and appearing at Council meetings,香蕉视频直播� the petition states, and alleges that 香蕉视频直播渙n numerous occasions, the political opposition of the respondents has exceeded the bounds of respectful opposition.香蕉视频直播�

Bose argues the City of Surrey has an obligation to indemnify the seven respondents for their legal costs 香蕉视频直播渋f they香蕉视频直播檙e serious about expanding the scope of denying citizens participation. This is no ordinary case.香蕉视频直播�

The Safe Surrey Coalition majority on city council passed a motion during a land use meeting on Sept. 19 designed to 香蕉视频直播減rotect the democratic process香蕉视频直播� by banning some speakers from attending public hearings in council chambers and to ensure 香蕉视频直播渁 safe and respectful environment香蕉视频直播� for council and staff.

Coun. Brenda Locke, who is seeking election for Surrey mayor in next year香蕉视频直播檚 election as the Surrey Connect candidate, says she and other councillors were 香蕉视频直播渂lindsided香蕉视频直播� by that motion because it also authorized staff to take further steps including seeking court orders.

香蕉视频直播淚 didn香蕉视频直播檛 really realize that because we didn香蕉视频直播檛 have a copy in front of us,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淎s I said, we were all blindsided.香蕉视频直播�

Locke said despite researching the issue she has 香蕉视频直播渘ever found a council anywhere in Canada that has done this, so I would assume that there will be a lot of eyes watching to see how this moves forward.香蕉视频直播�

Coun. Jack Hundial, also of Surrey Connect, called the city香蕉视频直播檚 petition to the court 香蕉视频直播渇rankly uncalled for. There香蕉视频直播檚 no reason to do this and it香蕉视频直播檚 just another huge black eye for the city, the city doesn香蕉视频直播檛 need it. I think a huge overreach by government. Really, people香蕉视频直播檚 rights a freedoms.香蕉视频直播�

Mayor Doug McCallum could not be reached for comment. Coun. Doug Elford, of the Safe Surrey Coalition, said Friday said he香蕉视频直播檚 香蕉视频直播渘ot quite sure香蕉视频直播� what precipitated the court petition beyond the original council resolution. 香蕉视频直播淚 have put a call into legal right now, waiting for a call back,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 have answer for you right now. I香蕉视频直播檝e got my feelers out on this to find out what precipitated the reasoning for it, and that香蕉视频直播檚 where we香蕉视频直播檙e at.香蕉视频直播�

Ivan Scott, one of the seven respondents, said Friday he hadn香蕉视频直播檛 been served yet. Fighting the petition will no doubt be costly, he said.

香蕉视频直播淭his is just another typical way that he香蕉视频直播檚 trying to intimidate us, bully us and try and shut us down and restrict any type of resistance to anything he does,香蕉视频直播� Scott said of the mayor, 香蕉视频直播渁nd especially the Keep the RCMP in Surrey campaign.香蕉视频直播�

Scott hopes a lawyer might take on their case pro bono considering it香蕉视频直播檚 香蕉视频直播渁bsolutely in the public interest.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e just a group of volunteers here,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淭hey should indemnify us if they香蕉视频直播檙e going to fight their own citizens. In a case like this, they should in actual fact guarantee our legal costs, or stand for them anyway. That should be in the interests of the public. To just nail meal is not really in the interest of the public.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淚f there was somebody who is interested in us and looking at this as a pro bono, we香蕉视频直播檇 happily talk to him,香蕉视频直播� Scott said.

tom.zytaruk@surreynowleader.com
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