[LabComm] Debate on " ’Safe Streets" Legislation Uncovers Serious Flaws, says Kwan

[BC NDP NEWSWIRE]

Victoria -- Attorney General Geoff Plant made a number of startling admissions during debate on the BC Liberal government's "Safe Streets" legislation, NDP Opposition MLA Jenny Kwan said today.

Kwan said that for the first time, Plant admitted that asking for a quarter to make a phone call, or change to take a bus is an offence under the legislation, which passed third reading this morning.  The Attorney General also said that vendors selling newspapers to motorists on the roadway at BC Ferries' terminals are also now breaking the new law.

"The Attorney General's admissions are proof that the 'Safe Streets' Act has more to do with cheap politics than good policy," said Kwan.  "It's clear that in their rush to get a headline, the government did not think through the consequences of what they were proposing, and now, as a result, the previously harmless act of asking for change to plug a parking meter is illegal in BC."

Kwan said that the Criminal Code already covers aggressive panhandling.  She said that's why the mayors of Vancouver and Victoria are opposing the government's scheme.  She said the bill was so rushed and ill-conceived that government had to amend it to protect charity fundraisers at banks.

"This new legislation does nothing to make our streets safer.  Instead it criminalizes normal behavior and turns law-abiding British Columbians into law-breakers," said Kwan.  

"As the implications of this bill become obvious, the constitutionality of the government's actions will likely be challenged," said Kwan. "In trying to score political points, they have saddled British Columbians with unworkable and absurd rules."

"The government is complaining that the debate took too long on this bill, extending the session for an extra day at a cost to taxpayers.  But the cost to debate this ill-conceived bill is less than the cost of one taxpayer-financed partisan ad running on prime-time television."

BACKGROUNDER
>From Hansard, October 25, 2004

J. Kwan:  Does this bill ban anyone from asking for change at a phone booth, for example, or at a bus stop or a parkade? I myself have done it when I'm faced with a situation where I don't have the appropriate change to stick into the machines. Does this act actually create an offence in those situations?
Hon. G. Plant: If you are within five metres of the ATM, the pay phone, the public toilet facility or the bus stop, yes.

Hon. G. Plant: The newspaper vendor, who may be on the [BC Ferry] roadway for the purpose of selling a newspaper to somebody in a vehicle, would be committing an offence.

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