City committee denies pro-life appeal for “Respect for Life” week

A pro-life group appealing the city clerk’s decision for a proclamation has been denied, but it’s not due to their views.

At Monday’s governance and priorities committee meeting, the appeal for the “Saskatoon Alliance for Life” group’s “Respect for Life” week was heard. The denial was unanimous because of the group’s status.

They are not a charitable or a non-profit organization, a requirement which is a part of “The Flag and Proclamation Policy,” passed in October 2019.

The bylaw: #yxe #yxecc pic.twitter.com/8AXKd2TvuO

— brady lang (@BradyLangSK) January 20, 2020

President of the group, Carole Tokaruk, had an opportunity to make her case prior to the ruling.

“We are pro-women, pro-life, and pro-family, and proud of it,” she said. “When we deny others the right to hold positive, life-affirming ideas, when we only allow one train of thought to exist to function, we are crippling, and stagnating society.”

The city administration noted that a similar request was denied by city council in December 2018.

Tokaruk said the city’s original denial of their ask was unclear. In the response to Alliance for Life’s request, the city stated their application “does not comply with the criteria set out in Section 4.4 of the Policy.”

That part of the policy outlines four subsections with multiple reasonings. Councillors agreed there needs to be more clarity moving forward, especially in respect to denied requests.

Monday’s decision was the first challenge the city has had to face to “The Flag and Proclamation Policy.”