 
Ontario Anti-Panhandling Law Challenged in Court The Ontario Court of Appeal has reserved judgment on whether to strike down Ontario's Safe Streets Act. In that court, CCLA Special Counsel Frank Addario and Vanora Simpson argued that the province's restrictive "anti-panhandling" law - which forbids, among other things, requesting money in a roadway, or near a bus stop, telephone booth, or public toilet - unfairly punishes the most vulnerable members of society. The government tried to justify the law by claiming that its primary purpose was to protect traffic safety. However, Addario pointed out a recent amendment to the law, which specifically exempted "charitable organizations" from these restrictions. Since the activities of these organizations posed the same potential threats to traffic safety, he contended that the law discriminated against the poor. | CCLA In The Schools | Join Us | Feedback | Search | Other Interesting Sites | Home |
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