SUBMITTED BY SCOTT HANSON, NOTL.
OPINION
Dear editor:
The anti-horse carriage demonstrations continue and I wonder about Canadian law.
As an American who lived through the civil rights demonstrations of the ‘60s, I remember the anger against “outside agitators” decending on southern communities.
Those persons were using their freedom of speech and assembly to demonstrate against practices that were in fact in breech of federal law. The Sentineals have broken no laws.
The fact the Sentineals treat their animals well may not have any bearing in this matter, but the premise that the Sentineals using horses to pull carriages is cruel is just incorrect.
However, short of libel and slander, people do have the freedom to express what they wish no matter how incorrect it may be.
They can take their signs and express their views almost anywhere, but they choose to continually do it where the Sentineals do business.
When these actions are targeted against one business or person or place it seems to me to cross the line and become intentional harassment.
Wouldn’t it be nice to see a trial between the parties in front of a jury of Niagara-on-the-Lake peers?
Scott Hanson
NOTL