Kelowna RCMP Division Commander Supt. Kara Triance poses for a picture.
Photo credit: SUBMITTED / RCMP
April 12, 2021 – 4.30 p.m.
Kelowna RCMP will not fine people who protest outdoors as long as they wash their hands and stay apart.
This is the policy that RCMP Supt presented to Kelowna City Council today, April 12th. Kara Triance in response to a question from Councilor Loyal Woolridge.
“We are working very hard to focus on the areas that are hardest hit, which are the greatest needs,” said Triance. “With regard to the public protest, which I think is the most worrying thing, you will find that the province recently changed the measures of the Emergency Law that we are going to enforce.
“We will continue to emerge and make sure protests are safe but consistent with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms that allows people to protest peacefully. People must do this safely with hand sanitizer and reasonable distance, but the organizers are allowed to organize events outside. ” that allows them to use their voices as long as it is done safely. ”
This does not include wearing masks. These must be worn in companies, she noted.
On Sunday, about 200 people gathered in Kerry Park in downtown Kelowna to rally for GraceLife Church in Alberta after local health officials blocked access to prevent the church from holding services indoors.
READ MORE: No Fines After Kelowna’s Protest in Support of the Church in Alberta: RCMP
Kelowna RCMP appeared at the Kelowna rally but did not issue any fines.
Triance made her comments after presenting her strategic plan for RCMP activities for the next three years.
Police need to focus on working with citizens, authorities and other neighborhood associations to build a better relationship between the police and the community, she said.
Of the greatest concern are security problems in the inner city, in Central Kelowna and Rutland, which often involve the homeless.
“We must solve the problems affecting these neighborhoods with dignity and compassion,” said Triance.
READ MORE: Kelowna RCMP wants to become more sensitive to sexual assault victims
The only change to the plan requested by the Council was to include statistics on traffic fines in the quarterly police reports.
To contact a reporter for this story, Email Rob Munro or call 250-808-0143 or Email the editor. You can also submit Photos, videos or news tips for the newsroom and enter to win a monthly raffle.
We appreciate your comments and opinions on our stories, but play nice. We will not censor or delete comments unless they contain unrelated statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about the comments, please email the editor using the link above.
News from © iNFOnews, 2021
