Penticton anti-racism bylaw back on the table

Racial harassment could soon earn you a fine in Penticton.

The new bylaw is back on the table as Penticton city council considers the new rules meant to curb discriminatory harassment in public places.

It comes more than two years after the idea was first tabled by South Okanagan Immigrant and Community Services.

The non-profit’s leadership headed to council after repeated instances of racial harassment, with a many directed at its own employees and clients.

Though there are very few similar bylaws in Canada, largely due to legal complications over Charter rights and the fact that harassment is typically handled by police, there are other cities that threaten fines for racial harassment.

The bylaw proposed in Penticton mirrors one in Calgary.

It was deliberated in council committees before now returning for a city council debate at a meeting today, May 19.

Among the changes proposed for Penticton’s Safe Public Spaces bylaw, it would allow bylaw officers to fine perpetrators up to $500 for discriminatory harassment, so long as it’s directed at an individual and in a public place.

Most Canadian cities do not have such a bylaw and none do in BC.

If Kelowna had such a bylaw, for example, it’s likely the man who launched a racist tirade against a South Asian couple last week would’ve been subject to the fine.