Ontario's Superior Court declares parts of panhandling law, Safe Streets Act, unconstitutional for infringing on freedom of expression and presumption of innocence.

Ontario's Superior Court has declared unconstitutional parts of the province's panhandling law, Safe Streets Act, including provisions prohibiting aggressive soliciting and soliciting a "captive audience" such as people waiting at ATMs or public transit. The court ruled that these provisions infringe upon freedom of expression rights and the presumption of innocence. The decision was praised by the Canadian Civil Liberties Association as a significant victory in the fight against the law's limitations on the ability of poor people to ask for help from their fellow citizens.

April 03, 2024
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