A Vancouver mayor has banned children's climate change drawings from being displayed on council members' desks during an upcoming vote on fossil fuels, CTV News Vancouver reported.
"I understand counselors are permitted to have an opinion, but earlier this morning, you made a specific point of expressing to the gallery and the people in council chambers that we shouldn't be clapping or cheering because it's intimidating to staff," City Councilor Brian Montague said during a Tuesday meeting.
"Yet I see Coun. Fry and Coun. Carr have signs, visible signs, on their desks, and I feel that's intimidating to the speakers that we're going to have," Montague continued. "It's intimidation. They're basically saying that they don't want to hear them."
One of the drawings in question said "Stop Climate Change," another was of a seal with "No more gas. Save our only earth!" written across the page, and a third stated "Keep gas out of our buildings," according to CTV News Vancouver.
Mayor Ken Sim ultimately decided the signs breached a bylaw stating councilor's conduct must not "by words, tone, manner of speaking or gesticulation, express any opinion or make any allegation that directly or indirectly reflects negatively upon the character of any person or group of persons."
"I think it's incumbent upon us to create a safe environment for everyone so they can express their feelings," Sim stated.
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