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BC - The B.C. Marijuana Party ( BCMP ) says it is suing the City of Abbotsford following allegations that city crews removed a local candidate's provincial election signs.
According to the BCNP, Tim Felger has been "targeted" by the city - a statement president Marc Emery highlights by claiming "virtually all" of the Abbotsford-Mt.Lehman candidate's 40 signs have been removed.
Felger also said yesterday he has a witness statement that points to city crews taking down a number of his signs on Old Yale Road. However, City of Abbotsford spokesman Jay Teichroeb has responded by saying the city has not removed any of Felger's signs since he became an election candidate.
"The targeting of BCMP signs, while leaving those of other political parties in place, is an affront to the core principles underlying our democracy," Emery said.
"Abbotsford is a hotbed of prohibitionist thinking and they seem to be targeting us because they do not agree with our message.
"The right to express political opinions is of paramount importance to anyone that values freedom - we are greatly disappointed that our candidate's ability to participate in the electoral process has been hindered."
Felger was asked yesterday whether he is alleging the city has removed all 40 of his signs.
"If the city did not remove of all of them, they are still promoting that I am not a legitimate candidate and I am not to be respected. Even if they did not take them all down, they are still responsible for the attitude of the public and therefore they are liable," he said.
Felger said the City of Abbotsford owes him an apology.
"Not only that, but I think they should should make an official statement that tells the community that they must stop destroying political signs."
Part of the lawsuit surrounds a letter sent to Felger by Gordon Ferguson, the city's bylaw and animal control manager, on April 29.
In that letter, Ferguson wrote that an "unauthorized sign" was placed by Felger at the Northeast corner of Downes Road and Clearbrook Road - close to MEI.
According to Felger, the sign in question contained the words: "Legalize marijuana. Prohibition kills pride, hope and humanity. Vote Tim Felger."
In his letter, which Felger said he received May 2, Ferguson stated the sign was located on public property and was in contravention of city regulations.
"In addition, it is located beside a school and contains a message that is offensive to the community," the letter stated.
"Please remove the sign, and any similar signs that you installed, without delay."
In a previous interview with the Abbotsford News, conducted two weeks ago, Teichroeb said that when the letter was sent, Felger was not officially an election candidate.
Regardless of that, however, he said the city "had not removed the sign" and he had "no idea" what had happened to it.
Felger said he registered as a candidate on April 29, and it was only a "technicality" with paperwork that delayed his registration until May 2.
Speaking yesterday, Teichroeb reiterated his message that the city is not responsible for Felger's signs disappearing.
"I can confirm to you that the city has not taken any of their signs down. The ( Gordon Ferguson ) letter was sent because, at the time, there were signs going up from someone who was not an official ( election ) candidate. Now the person is a candidate, we have refrained from removing any of the signs.
"If they are implying we have been removing the signs, then that is factually inaccurate."
Teichroeb said yesterday morning the city had not been served with the lawsuit. Felger expected that to happen either yesterday afternoon or today.
"Typically, we would examine the merits of the case and seek advice from our lawyer in terms of the steps that should be taken," Teichroeb said.
"But at this point, we have not been contacted by the Marijuana Party."
The BCNP also says it is suing Surrey School Board after two of the party's candidates were excluded from an all-candidates debate at Queen Elizabeth School.
Source: Abbotsford News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 Hacker Press Ltd.
Contact: editor@abbynews.com
Website: Welcome To The Abbotsford News | Abbotsford News
According to the BCNP, Tim Felger has been "targeted" by the city - a statement president Marc Emery highlights by claiming "virtually all" of the Abbotsford-Mt.Lehman candidate's 40 signs have been removed.
Felger also said yesterday he has a witness statement that points to city crews taking down a number of his signs on Old Yale Road. However, City of Abbotsford spokesman Jay Teichroeb has responded by saying the city has not removed any of Felger's signs since he became an election candidate.
"The targeting of BCMP signs, while leaving those of other political parties in place, is an affront to the core principles underlying our democracy," Emery said.
"Abbotsford is a hotbed of prohibitionist thinking and they seem to be targeting us because they do not agree with our message.
"The right to express political opinions is of paramount importance to anyone that values freedom - we are greatly disappointed that our candidate's ability to participate in the electoral process has been hindered."
Felger was asked yesterday whether he is alleging the city has removed all 40 of his signs.
"If the city did not remove of all of them, they are still promoting that I am not a legitimate candidate and I am not to be respected. Even if they did not take them all down, they are still responsible for the attitude of the public and therefore they are liable," he said.
Felger said the City of Abbotsford owes him an apology.
"Not only that, but I think they should should make an official statement that tells the community that they must stop destroying political signs."
Part of the lawsuit surrounds a letter sent to Felger by Gordon Ferguson, the city's bylaw and animal control manager, on April 29.
In that letter, Ferguson wrote that an "unauthorized sign" was placed by Felger at the Northeast corner of Downes Road and Clearbrook Road - close to MEI.
According to Felger, the sign in question contained the words: "Legalize marijuana. Prohibition kills pride, hope and humanity. Vote Tim Felger."
In his letter, which Felger said he received May 2, Ferguson stated the sign was located on public property and was in contravention of city regulations.
"In addition, it is located beside a school and contains a message that is offensive to the community," the letter stated.
"Please remove the sign, and any similar signs that you installed, without delay."
In a previous interview with the Abbotsford News, conducted two weeks ago, Teichroeb said that when the letter was sent, Felger was not officially an election candidate.
Regardless of that, however, he said the city "had not removed the sign" and he had "no idea" what had happened to it.
Felger said he registered as a candidate on April 29, and it was only a "technicality" with paperwork that delayed his registration until May 2.
Speaking yesterday, Teichroeb reiterated his message that the city is not responsible for Felger's signs disappearing.
"I can confirm to you that the city has not taken any of their signs down. The ( Gordon Ferguson ) letter was sent because, at the time, there were signs going up from someone who was not an official ( election ) candidate. Now the person is a candidate, we have refrained from removing any of the signs.
"If they are implying we have been removing the signs, then that is factually inaccurate."
Teichroeb said yesterday morning the city had not been served with the lawsuit. Felger expected that to happen either yesterday afternoon or today.
"Typically, we would examine the merits of the case and seek advice from our lawyer in terms of the steps that should be taken," Teichroeb said.
"But at this point, we have not been contacted by the Marijuana Party."
The BCNP also says it is suing Surrey School Board after two of the party's candidates were excluded from an all-candidates debate at Queen Elizabeth School.
Source: Abbotsford News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 Hacker Press Ltd.
Contact: editor@abbynews.com
Website: Welcome To The Abbotsford News | Abbotsford News
