Image credit: Flickr/Province of British Columbia

By Mel Rothenburger

ARMCHAIR MAYOR

ROTHENBURGER: Free speech versus protecting schools from disruptive protests

Feb 22, 2024 | 5:55 AM

THRONE SPEECHES are typically vapid snoozers, and B.C.’s NDP government didn’t let us down this week. The Throne Speech is supposed to give us a general idea of what the government’s priorities are for the year, a precursor to the budget.

As it happens, the budget is today. At any rate, the Speech was — as is often the case — several pages of braggadocio about what the government has done rather than what it’s going to do. There were, however, some interesting tidbits.

One of them came under the heading, “Keeping kids safe and healthy.” This provided an opportunity to remind us that Eby’s NDP is going to launch an anti-vaping strategy, build new schools, expand nutrition programs, etc. etc.

None of that’s new. But then came an addition. “New legislation,” the Speech said, “will be tabled to protect schools and kids from disruptive protests.”

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It pointed out that, during the pandemic, measures were needed to protect doctors and nurses from aggressive protests.

“And as schools increasingly become the target for protests, your government will take action to ensure classrooms are not disrupted and kids can feel safe in school.”

Just how that will be done wasn’t explained. One wonders if whatever the action is will extend to venues other than schools, such as the protest at the North Kamloops library last summer against a drag storytime event for kids.

What about school board meetings across the street from KamHigh? Will board trustees be entitled to the same protection as doctors and nurses were, and students will be?

Keeping kids safe at school is admirable but I can’t help but wonder about the increasing tendency to crack down on free expression. The same day as the B.C. Throne Speech, a news story told of a motivational Jewish speaker being cancelled by a Women’s Day event.

I don’t have the answer on how to establish the right balance; I hope the government does.

I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.

Mel Rothenburger is a regular contributor to CFJC Today, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a recipient of the Jack Webster Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. He has served as mayor of Kamloops, school board chair and TNRD director, and is a retired daily newspaper editor. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.