Insurance requirement for protest marches out of reach, P.E.I. peace organization says
Even 'well-intentioned... events can have unintended consequences,' police warn
A P.E.I. organization that doesn't even have a bank account is calling on the City of Charlottetown to relent after it was told it needed $2 million in liability insurance to hold a march for peace.
Earlier this month, the Island Peace Committee was planning to hold a peace march and rally condemning violence in Gaza, Sudan and Myanmar.
Such events have been held for years, committee volunteers said, but this year a new requirement popped up.
"City police told us that we needed a $2-million insurance policy to take to the streets of Charlottetown," said Marian White, a member of the Island Peace Committee. "We assumed it was a misunderstanding. But the police were firm on that."
A local insurance company quoted the organization $1,600 for a one-year policy, White said, noting that the committee doesn't even have a bank account.
"We assume the city has insurance and we want the city police to do their job of protecting the citizens. And where there are activities on the street, we expect them to be there to protect us," she said.
Why insurance is required
Carol Lang, another member of the Island Peace Committee, said she felt confused by the insurance policy requirement.
"When I look at it and what's happening in the rest of the country, and certainly the United States, free speech — we have to guard that. Because that is being clamped down on again and again, especially in the university administrations," she said.
"We just want to include everyone and look at the world [and] do what we can and make it better."
The need for third-party liability insurance has been on the books since 2015, Charlottetown police Chief Brad MacConnell told CBC News.
It exists to protect those involved as well as the city itself, he said.
"Even the most well-intentioned marches, protests or events can have unintended consequences. I think we're seeing that across the world," MacConnell said.
"There's a certain amount of due diligence to ensure that the public in general is protected."
No attempt to prevent protests: chief
For those planning events or marches, MacConnell said early communication with the city and its police force would be the best way to ensure the event is successful.
"We certainly only have the best interests of people in mind. There's certainly no attempt to try to prevent or dissuade people from entering into peaceful protest," he said.
"In fact, I have a great deal of respect for people that stand up and protest for things such as peace and other types of rights."
MacConnell said the city and police will always try to work with organizers to help them accomplish what they're trying to do, but that sometimes involves compromise.
For example, an event being held on a sidewalk would carry less risk than one that involves travelling on a roadway and may not require insurance, he said.
Ukrainian-Canadian group had insurance
Last weekend, the Ukrainian-Canadian community held a rally and a march that closed off some streets in downtown Charlottetown to celebrate their heritage at a time when Russia and Ukraine are at war. The organization had insurance and the event went smoothly, a volunteer said.
As for the Island Peace Committee, White said it won't change how protests are planned — and it doesn't plan to take out that insurance policy.
"We will continue to exercise our rights under the Charter for freedom of speech, freedom of assembly. We will continue to take to the streets and get our message across," White said.
"We believe — and it's a fact — that Islanders want to be on the right side of history, and we will continue to take to the streets."
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With files from Stacey Janzer