this post was submitted on 18 Jan 2026
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Woman alarmed after being asked to leave Conservative town hall over T-shirt (yukon-news.com)
submitted 1 day ago by streetfestival@lemmy.ca to c/canada@lemmy.ca
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Cowichan businesswoman Kristi Koons said she’s alarmed and concerned over the fact that she and another two women were asked to leave a town hall featuring federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre on June 10 because of the T-shirts they were wearing.

Koons said she was quiet and respectful at the town hall, which was held at Mellor Hall at the Cowichan Exhibition grounds and attracted more than 1,000 people, before a group of men and RCMP officers approached her and said she was not welcome at the event because of her T-shirt.

Koons’s T-shirt featured half a rainbow pie, with the slogan: “Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It’s not pie.”

She said after some discussion, the RCMP respectfully asked her to leave the town hall, as well as two other women at the event that were also wearing T-shirts with slogans that some at the event didn’t like.

“I found it alarming,” Koons said.

“I’m an engaged community member and I often sit at (discussion) tables with people that have many points of view. I work hard to try to bridge the gaps and I have big worries these days about where we’re heading, particularly with what’s going on south of the border.”

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[–] Arkouda@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

EDIT:

Misunderstanding on my part. Leaving up so everyone can see the egg.

Freedom of expression is limited by law?

Yes. Most Canadians understand this.

I am not sure who you are arguing with but you should probably read the thread before jumping into the pool bud.

[–] peoplebeproblems@midwest.social 0 points 1 day ago (2 children)

I'm not arguing anything I'm trying to understand. Yes I know it's Canada, so that's why it's weird to me (I'm from the U.S.)

[–] nyan@lemmy.cafe 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

The document which governs this in Canada is the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, part of the Constitution Act. The relevant portion is right at the beginning: "The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees the rights and freedoms set out in it subject only to such reasonable limits prescribed by law as can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society." In other words, rights are not absolute, which allows things like laws against hate speech to be passed. Among the rights guaranteed by the Charter is "freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication". Freedom of speech is a subset of that.

( Full text of the Charter )

(In fact, even in the US, the right to freedom of speech is not quite absolute, as there are laws against libel and slander.)

[–] Arkouda@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Apologies for the misunderstanding! Your comment read a little combative to me, and that was my bad.

Yes, in Canada we have Freedom of expression limited by law which includes speech, art, and any other way one can think to express themselves. Generally speaking the only laws that limit Freedom of Expression are Hate laws, with an unfortunate exception for Religions which will hopefully stop in the future.

It is far more permissive than Free speech. If I am understanding your Constitution correctly I am allowed to say "Fuck the Police" in public, but if I say it on an album or put it on a sign it becomes covered by propaganda laws and most recently anti terrorism laws.

Is that correct? Or can you explain it better to me because I try to keep out of US Civics when they don't impact me.

[–] peoplebeproblems@midwest.social 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

I actually don't know that myself. I thought you could put Fuck the Police on an album or sign.

The things I know of is inciting violence, threats of committing a crime, and libel.

[–] Arkouda@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

I think it is a little easier now, but I know NWA was listed as a terror group in the US for the song. Which likely fell under what you cited.

But at the end of the day what I have seen from the North looking in is every right has and will be violated if the ruling party doesn't like you. So whatever it means in theory usually gets slapped with practice. haha

[–] peoplebeproblems@midwest.social 1 points 1 day ago

Oh yeah. 100%.

Actually I'm supposed to update my ID, and I'm starting to wonder if I really want to.