Kelowna mayor has no words for anti-abortion group this year | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
Subscribe

Would you like to subscribe to our newsletter?

Kelowna News

Kelowna mayor has no words for anti-abortion group this year

KELOWNA - Anti-abortion activists demonstrating outside Kelowna General Hospital on Pandosy Street have another issue to protest.

For the past six years Kelowna mayors have supported a local right to life group by proclaiming their Protect Human Life Week, but this year Mayor Walter Gray and council are rescinding that support.

The city has decided it will have no part in announcing this year's event Sept. 24 through Oct. 2 organized by the Kelowna Right to Life Society. New city guidelines find the registered charity, now over 30 years in operation, violates the requirements for a proclamation.

On its website it states: "The City refuses to grant proclamations for 'politically controversial' causes or any initiative that opposes 'rights and freedoms' currently afforded under Canadian law."

The decision may be a sign Mayor Gray is warming up to a more progressive governance. It was just last year he declared gay pride week in Kelowna. Back in 1997 Gray made headlines when he refused to sign a proclamation for a gay and lesbian pride day.

While slighted by the decision the society is still going ahead with their planned "Walk for Life" fundraiser September 28 at Mission Creek Park.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Julie Whittet at jwhittet@infotelnews.ca or call (250)718-0428.

News from © iNFOnews, 2013
iNFOnews

  • Popular vernon News
View Site in: Desktop | Mobile