MINTO – Council is cracking down on residents they claim have been misusing question period to oppose public displays of Pride in the community.
Advised by CAO Gregg Furtney at Tuesday afternoon's council meeting in Minto, councillors have voted unanimously to stop any questions, correspondence or discussion referencing neutrality in public spaces or a referendum during council question periods.
Furtney's speech was predicated by a delegation from Palmerston resident Irene Dooley asking the cost to paint a standard crosswalk and how much the township has paid to maintain the rainbow crosswalk in Harriston since its installation in 2022.
Dooley's delegation is just one of several related to a petition and yellow flyer by a group of 'concerned citizens' looking to convince council to create a bylaw ensuring all crosswalks and flags/banners on public property "remain neutral" in Minto.
Mayor Dave Turton also started the question period by asking residents to refrain from asking questions using "discourteous" language and seeking policies not being discussed at the meeting.
"I've spoken at length with our lawyer and other municipal staff. The common thought is whatever the intent of the original petition was, a reasonable person can see that this topic has turned into an ideological debate about the rights and freedoms of individuals and human rights in general on both sides," said Furtney.
Calling the issue an "ideological storm" that's dividing some areas of the community, Furtney said his professional advice is for council to "stop this discussion immediately" as the debate has legal, financial and social impacts on the community and puts the corporation and members of council "at risk."
Quoting the Municipal Act, Furtney went on to say the petition and related petitions have no legal effect "no matter how many signatures it has" and regulating the use of municipal property that in doing so contravenes the human rights code "would not be acceptable and would certainly be challenged."
"This topic, in the opinion of (consulted) professionals and myself is that this is no longer in the jurisdiction or the authority of municipal council," said Furtney. "The original petition and the subsequent petitions do not compel council to act in any particular manner."
Directly after the ban, resident Lonnie Nachuck questioned the general structure of the township's question period.
Making remarks about people walking nude in the streets, Minto resident Laura Park also asked a question about what council plans to do when the "Pride parade" returns to Palmerston and Harriston before she was cut off by Turton.
"Unless we have say and give input, this isn't our community anymore," said Nachuck. "You guys don't get to make the rules. This is our community. We're the ones who pay you taxes. If everyone stopped paying their axes, how far do you think you're going to get? Like (the lack of community input) is really quite disturbing."
Isabel Buckmaster is the Local Journalism Initiative reporter for GuelphToday. LJI is a federally-funded program.
